Uthenthawai students protest relocation as Chula backs public use

Hundreds of Uthenthawai students and alumni rallied outside the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) on Thursday (October 22) to oppose plans to relocate the campus, while Chulalongkorn University maintained that the disputed land would be developed for public rather than commercial use.

Security was tightened around the ministry from the morning, with metal barriers placed at the entrance on Soi Yothi and police deployed to the area.

The Yothi-side gates were closed, leaving the Rama VI Road entrance as the only access point ahead of the planned gathering.

Around 300-400 current students and alumni of Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok’s Uthenthawai Campus arrived at about 1.40pm carrying signs opposing the relocation.

Alumni call for return to on-site classes

An alumni representative said the group wanted current students to be allowed to resume studying at the existing campus.

Students have been required to study online during a 90-day suspension of on-site teaching, but the representative argued that online classes were unsuitable for vocational and technical education that depends heavily on practical training and properly equipped laboratories.

The alumni group also reiterated its long-standing position that the site had been intended for educational purposes during the reign of King Rama VI.

The group voiced concern that returning the land to Chulalongkorn University could eventually lead to commercial development, citing what it regarded as previous examples of university-owned land being used commercially.

The claim was disputed by Chulalongkorn University, which said it had no intention of using the site for commercial purposes.

A representative of current Uthenthawai students also rejected the proposed relocation, arguing that disputes and violence between students from rival institutions should not be linked to the campus location.

The students said they were prepared to pledge that they would not become involved in further violent confrontations.

Students had already publicly declared a commitment to ending violence with Pathumwan Institute of Technology and asked police to help facilitate dialogue between the two institutions.

Chulalongkorn says land will serve public interest

Chulalongkorn University President Wilert Puriwat sent a letter to MHESI minister Yodchanan Wongsawat on Thursday outlining the university’s plans for the Uthenthawai site.

According to the letter, Chulalongkorn intends to develop the land in a way that provides maximum public benefit and has no objective of seeking commercial returns.

Yodchanan had also said a day earlier that the land would not be used commercially and that discussions would cover education, innovation and other public-benefit uses.

Ministry convenes talks on dispute

Yodchanan was due to chair a meeting at 3.30pm involving ministry executives, the Metropolitan Police Bureau and other relevant agencies.

The meeting was expected to consider the students’ demands and possible solutions involving Uthenthawai Campus and Pathumwan Institute of Technology.

The ministry has previously said discussions would also address temporary teaching arrangements and measures to minimise disruption to students during any transition.

Yodchanan was expected to brief the media after the meeting on the outcome of the discussions and measures proposed to address the dispute.