PM uses Article 44 order to control student brawls
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha used his absolute power under Article 44 of the interim charter in a bid to help end the culture of brawls among vocational students.
According to Prayut’s edicts issued yesterday in his capacity as chief of the National Council for Peace and Order, it will not just be the students who are punished, but also their parents and schools if investigators learn that steps had not been taken to stop students from feuding.
The order authorises state officials – acting under the 2003 Child Protection Act – to detain brawlers for up to six hours before handing them over to the police, school administrators or parents.
The order also said that parents or guardians must take care of and ensure there is no bad behaviour from youth, while also adhering to ministerial regulations under the Child Protection Act.
Parents should not support or allow their children to participate in brawls or have a hand in assaulting others, the order said, adding that relevant officials would follow through and ensure the parents were sticking by the rules.
If students are caught brawling or assaulting others, their parents or guardians will be held accountable, the order said.
It also authorises state officials to inform parents about students’ behaviour as well as to provide suggestions, warnings, probationary measures or other conditions to prevent a repeat of the offence or require a sum of money as a deposit for up to two years. This sum would be confiscated in the case of re-offenders and added to the Child Protection Fund.
Anybody who incites or encourages students to violate the Child Protection Act’s Article 64 (under which they are required to adhere to school regulations) could be subject to up to three months in jail and/or a Bt30,000 in fine.
Those who encourage brawls or assaults could face up to six months in prison and/or a Bt60,000 in fine, the order said, and if the brawl or assault leads to a death, the person believed to have incited the attack could face up to a one-year jail term and/or Bt100,000 in fines.
The order also requires schools to arrange guidance activities to tackle the issue of student brawls and cooperate with relevant agencies to implement measures to prevent and suppress student brawls.