Students call for online protest over new ‘gag orders’

By Kornrawee Panyasuppakun 
The Nation

 

Student activists symbolically cover their mouths in protest against regulations they believe are aimed at quelling political expression.

 

Student activist group Education for the Liberation of Siam has called for the use of the hashtag “#studentcantsay” on Facebook and Twitter to protest Education Ministry regulations on student conduct seen as restricting their freedom of political expression.
 

Anger and frustration have built up among students after the Cabinet approved the revamped regulations on August 14 banning “inappropriate” shows of affection, actions likely to cause public nuisance, and public gatherings likely to cause disorder.

 

“The regulations will affect our daily lives and are ambiguous enough to be used for political purposes – banning political expression,” group leader Thanchanok Koshpasharin said among fellow students gathered on the MBK skywalk on Saturday afternoon. 

 

They called on students to post their pictures online with a hand over their mouths and to use the hashtag #studentcantsay.

“We want a part in drafting regulations like this,” Thanchanok said. “We want a public hearing and we want the regulations to be specific.” 

 

Rather than banning actions on the basis of social order and morality, the regulations should address specific acts, such as taking illicit drugs, she said.

 

The concern is that the regulations’ broad scope could allow them to be used to punish students for staging political rallies against the junta-led government.

 

“There will be more and more groups calling for these regulations to be scrapped,” said Student Union of Thailand leader Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak. 

 

He submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Friday asking that the changes to the regulations be revoked.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30352464

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-08-20

"...“The regulations will affect our daily lives and are ambiguous enough to be used for political purposes – banning political expression,” group leader Thanchanok Koshpasharin said among fellow students gathered on the MBK skywalk on Saturday afternoon. .."

 

I am very glad to see that the students have twigged on to the real function of the rule change; it was never about sex, it was always about the ability to protest.

 

I sincerely hope that the students really pile up on this one; the greatest single threat to continued and long-term military rule is the students, and they know it.

 

Give' em hell, students!

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

to protest Education Ministry regulations on student conduct seen as restricting their freedom of political expression.

the backslide continues; they are locking thailand down

Luckily for the powers that be, Thai students are fairly passive, of course that wouldn't be a function of the indoctrination and lack of critical thinking in education, now would it? 

2 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

Give' em hell, students!

Going to be difficult if the adults in this country don't set the example!

A few martyrs outside Government House and this House of Cards will come tumbling down.

The kids deserve better.  The junta has done nothing for their future, now they want to take away any fun they might have .   It is amazing Thais would even vote for such wet blankets. 

good  for u its  up to the youngsters to kick this lot as hard as they can between the legs

Unless they go at it in a students United country wide full force and keep it coming and keeping it in the spotlight, the Junta will just crush it and desensitize the kids so it becomes norm as they think nothing we can do. It does seem to be a political move, but also a sterilization. I will say again, so close to communism, but on this one they want the effects to reach a Singpaore/Bhutan model..

Edited August 20, 20187 yr by holy cow cm

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

A few martyrs outside Government House and this House of Cards will come tumbling down.

Yep, agree.

Unfortunately, it is the only way forward.

Shake large bottle of soda water, pound in cork with hammer, heat - stand back and watch the show! 

I guess they see what is happening in the US in the Media and in Universities and are freaking out. You can't silence people, they need to freely express what they want, they will anyway, somehow so let it be!

"I got an idea, lets REALLY piss the students off right before the election."

"what election?"

 

Those students are brave to show their faces online.

 

These students deserve the support of the entire nation. Brave kids. I hope they get masses of support from the Thais (but I am not holding my breath ...).

I really hope there will be more of this. Thais deserve a better country they just don‘t know it. It takes balls and a vision to protest in a country where everybody is taught to feel small and unimportant or gets discriminated by their own countrymen. 

1 hour ago, holy cow cm said:

Unless they go at it in a students United country wide full force and keep it coming and keeping it in the spotlight, the Junta will just crush it and desensitize the kids so it becomes norm as they think nothing we can do. It does seem to be a political move, but also a sterilization. I will say again, so close to communism, but on this one they want the effects to reach a Singpaore/Bhutan model..

Military Rule and Communism at it's worst......... Reminiscent of Russia A number of years ago.........

17 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Man City are on at 7.30pm.

I love sarcasm!!?

7 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...“The regulations will affect our daily lives and are ambiguous enough to be used for political purposes – banning political expression,” group leader Thanchanok Koshpasharin said among fellow students gathered on the MBK skywalk on Saturday afternoon. .."

 

I am very glad to see that the students have twigged on to the real function of the rule change; it was never about sex, it was always about the ability to protest.

 

I sincerely hope that the students really pile up on this one; the greatest single threat to continued and long-term military rule is the students, and they know it.

 

Give' em hell, students!

 

 

They need to be very careful. It wasn't so long ago that students upset one of the many military governments and there were dire consequences. Look at all the little savages laughing. Land of Smiles, after all.

8 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...“The regulations will affect our daily lives and are ambiguous enough to be used for political purposes – banning political expression,” group leader Thanchanok Koshpasharin said among fellow students gathered on the MBK skywalk on Saturday afternoon. .."

 

I am very glad to see that the students have twigged on to the real function of the rule change; it was never about sex, it was always about the ability to protest.

 

I sincerely hope that the students really pile up on this one; the greatest single threat to continued and long-term military rule is the students, and they know it.

 

Give' em hell, students!

 

It's not just about the young, agree, give'm hell. 

" Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. "

4 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

Those students are brave to show their faces online.

They will also be marked for life as dissidents of the Junta as will any other students found supporting opposition to the new regulations. They may as well go all the way now and gather all the support they can. 

2 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

They need to be very careful. It wasn't so long ago that students upset one of the many military governments and there were dire consequences. Look at all the little savages laughing. Land of Smiles, after all.

This photo should be plastered all over Thailand as a reminder of the complete lack of care demonstrated by the Thai government and others at the time  - and don't think for one minute that anything has really changed and that it won't  happen again. 

To me it rates along side Nick Ut's napalm girl - a major wake up call in the US and the start to the end of the "war" .

4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

They need to be very careful. It wasn't so long ago that students upset one of the many military governments and there were dire consequences. Look at all the little savages laughing. Land of Smiles, after all.

This is why there needs to be a MASS movement of dissent - not just a piddling few (hundreds, even thousands - not enough). If there are only small groups of protesters, they can and will easily be picked off. If there is MASS opposition - in all manner of ways - then even a junta cannot stand for long ...

 

Edited August 20, 20187 yr by Eligius

11 minutes ago, Eligius said:

This is why there needs to be a MASS movement of dissent - not just a piddling few (hundreds, even thousands - not enough). If there are only small groups of protesters, they can and will easily be picked off. If there is MASS opposition - in all manner of ways - then even a junta cannot stand for long ...

 

But unfortunately,  unlikely there is anyone capable of  bringing the population together to start this change - at this point. 

2 minutes ago, Artisi said:

But unfortunately,  unlikely there is anyone capable of  bringing the population together to start this change - at this point. 

My only real hope is Thanathorn and his Future Forward Party. But it will be very, very difficult for him to get a foothold unless he secures mass support from the Thais - which, unfortunately, I do not see happening. But I have hopes that one day - one day - long after I am gone from Thaivisa and this world - someone like Thanathorn will lead Thailand into true democracy and freedom ...

12 hours ago, webfact said:

“We want a part in drafting regulations like this,”

The rest of Thai society would no doubt appreciate that all laws require their input, but it's not going to happen.

Edited August 20, 20187 yr by Jonmarleesco

13 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

"...“The regulations will affect our daily lives and are ambiguous enough to be used for political purposes – banning political expression,” group leader Thanchanok Koshpasharin said among fellow students gathered on the MBK skywalk on Saturday afternoon. .."

 

I am very glad to see that the students have twigged on to the real function of the rule change; it was never about sex, it was always about the ability to protest.

 

I sincerely hope that the students really pile up on this one; the greatest single threat to continued and long-term military rule is the students, and they know it.

 

Give' em hell, students!

 

Maybe there is hope for Thailand after all. There is no doubt that the rule is designed to be used to punish the students for anything that threatens those in charge. The students are a real threat since they have a "underground" communication process, they are passionate about change, they are motivated, they are willing to pay a penalty for encouraging change, they have less material wealth accumulated at this stage of their lives so there is less that can be taken from them, and they are well organized. They are poised to have a real impact and I truly hope they do.

Edited August 20, 20187 yr by Chris Lawrence
Students are not safe

29 minutes ago, chama said:

Maybe there is hope for Thailand after all. There is no doubt that the rule is designed to be used to punish the students for anything that threatens those in charge. The students are a real threat since they have a "underground" communication process, they are passionate about change, they are motivated, they are willing to pay a penalty for encouraging change, they have less material wealth accumulated at this stage of their lives so there is less that can be taken from them, and they are well organized. They are poised to have a real impact and I truly hope they do.

Students have to become better organised as an effective underground movement, being confrontive isn't the best way forward at the moment as they don't have a meaningful network in place to counter the actions against them. They need to develop guerrilla skills just as partisans do during war-time - keep a low profile, stay out of sight, have effective planning on selected targets / policies -- grandstanding doesn't do it, it leaves the actions and individuals open for retaliation which in the end is counter productive, it might get headlines for a day or two but quickly forgotten.

Hopefully one day soon they can really get their act together. 

Sadly the Uni massacre was encouraged from above and can not be discussed, THE main hurdle for many problems , the truth will come out they can not lie forever with the Internet wise kids (it is for those outside of Thailand) Brainwashing and propadanda is not so easy now with the Internet, even the North Koreans do not believe it , unfortunately most thais do

16 hours ago, LazySlipper said:

Going to be difficult if the adults in this country don't set the example!

They never did. 

Anywhere.

Summer of love ring a Bell? 

Brutally repressed, the students demonized en masse as drug addled urban malcontents, and parents were being brainwashed on US TV by Nixon's arsewipes to fear their own kids!