Chula history professor says the university failed her after being sued for approving a thesis

[webfact]

 

By Erich Parpart

 

A former teacher at Chulalongkorn University said the university failed to protect her against a lawsuit even though all she did was approve a thesis while she was teaching at the school.

 

The associate professor and four others are being sued by MR Priyanandana Rangsit, a granddaughter of the Prince of Chai Nat, who is seeking damages of 50 million baht for alleged slander.  

 

The other four defendants including thesis writer Nattapol Chai­ching who wrote two books and a thesis that the plaintiff claimed were misleading and damaged the reputation of her grandfather.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/34834/chula-history-professor-says-the-university-failed-her-after-being-sued-for-approving-a-thesis/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-11-10

 

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[Enzian]

The headline should say Thailand Being Dragged Kicking and Screaming Into the Modern World.

And in spite of the low university rankings, amazingly there are some good professors in Thailand; but this won't help.

[Odysseus123]

This is a very serious problem amongst academic circles in Thailand and trammels any form of free and independent debate especially in the study of History and politics.Step out of line and you can be financially ruined by the elites (any single one of them)bringing a defamation case against you.

This lady should have been protected by her academic institution-otherwise why do the job?

 

Just be quiet and keep your head below the level of the parapet-which is why the Thai education system is the complete dog's breakfast that it is.

[ChrisY1]

There are dangers for academics in both accepting and rejecting,  written works for publication.

Threats and retaliation are abound here....so many people cannot accept their work is not to standard....and now, a personal objection from someone will end in the courts!

[klauskunkel]

In essence: do not be critical of members of certain families, all the way from paleolithical times to the present, or you will lose your job and incur financial ruin.

This also shows how beholden supposedly progressive and forward-thinking institutions are to the elite.

[zzaa09]

4 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

In essence: do not be critical of members of certain families, all the way from paleolithical times to the present, or you will lose your job and incur financial ruin.

This also shows how beholden supposedly progressive and forward-thinking institutions are to the elite.

The basic crux of all that ails this fine society. 

[poskat]

sounds like another defamation lawsuit against someone for telling the truth

[zzaa09]

1 minute ago, poskat said:

sounds like another defamation lawsuit against someone for telling the truth

Same as it ever was.

[Orinoco]

Thailand has become the masters of self harm.

Will they ever grow up. unlikely i think.

[Rimmer]

Troll post and reply removed

[alien365]

Is any political party here going to try and change this defamation law? It would definitely make the party seem more corruption free If so. 

[richard_smith237]

I can’t say what I want to say here...

 

... But I can say that the Defamation laws and a specific other law along with reenforced ‘kreng-jai’ culture towards those with money continues to distort the moral compass and potential development of the nation. 

 

Nothing is more harmful to Thailands development that these very specific three things. 

 

 

 

[zzaa09]

14 minutes ago, alien365 said:

Is any political party here going to try and change this defamation law? It would definitely make the party seem more corruption free If so. 

Currently, Move Forward [or whatever they're called now] is subtly promoting as part of their dogma. 

And, of course, numerous loosely organized activists have been using it as their principle mantra forever. 

[SomchaiCNX]

Put that granddaughter on an international no fly list and no Visa list, maybe she will get the message ???? from the normal people with common sense. 

[bradiston]

Slander is spoken defamation, libel is written.

[bradiston]

29 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Currently, Move Forward [or whatever they're called now] is subtly promoting as part of their dogma. 

And, of course, numerous loosely organized activists have been using it as their principle mantra forever. 

Ha! Loose talk costs lives.

[zzaa09]

2 minutes ago, bradiston said:

Slander is spoken defamation, libel is written.

Here it's taken as one and the same. 

Thai way.

[bradiston]

25 minutes ago, zzaa09 said:

Here it's taken as one and the same. 

Thai way.

Not sure about that. For a good resume on the defamation laws and how they are used in Thailand, Google this:

 

Impact of Defamation Law

on Freedom of Expression in Thailand

 

Edited November 10, 2021 by bradiston
Replaced link with file name

[TooBigToFit]

Those getting sued don't have much hope, but they can organize a coup and takeover the nation without fear of legal problems. Once their generals are in power, they can have their trial their way with their courts if they want. Signing off on a thesis is a lot more legally risky in Thailand than taking over the nation using the military.

[Gandtee]

2 hours ago, alien365 said:

Is any political party here going to try and change this defamation law? It would definitely make the party seem more corruption free If so. 

Never. What? and take away the shield that protects them?

[khunPer]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

The other four defendants including thesis writer Nattapol Chai­ching who wrote two books and a thesis that the plaintiff claimed were misleading and damaged the reputation of her grandfather.

Oh, those defamation laws and keeping face. I always thought that a thesis could be challenged and disputed, especially at university level. Even it was acknowledged several years ago, doesn't mean that new information - or a different view on history - can't come up. What's wrong with for example looking into facts and theories about “Thai Politics in Phibun’s Government under the US World Order (1948–1957)”, perhaps there are something we understand better now in the always unbearably bright light of hindsight?

[John Drake]

It is usual in Thailand for universities to maintain the copyright on students' and faculty members' published work. I'll bet Chula owns control of this thesis already. They can restrict, ban, or revoke it if they want to. Wouldn't be surprised to see the writer of the thesis have his degree revoked.

Edited November 10, 2021 by John Drake

[HAPPYNUFF]

Universitys, worldwide, are a business, which is the main reason they encourage high fee paying foreign students.

A certain university in my country   recently   sought, and employed  a firm to investigate   as to why so many of their lecturing staff, on not particularly high  salaries, were able to afford  to own Mercedes Benz,  BMW and the like motor vehicles,  have expensive homes, and lived a rather lavish life style  .

I know, in my  day as a student    the  common joke amongst the  students, particularly the females, was "its a lay for an A",

while us poor  males had to  pay up  or else  forgo any life and just study, study, study. and hope for the best.

[candide]

15 minutes ago, John Drake said:

It is usual in Thailand for universities to maintain the copyright on students' and faculty members' published work. I'll bet Chula owns control of this thesis already. They can restrict, ban, or revoke it if they want to. Wouldn't be surprised to see the writer of the thesis have his degree revoked.

It doesn't happen often. It seems it only happened once.

https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20131031161316390

[Odysseus123]

2 hours ago, khunPer said:

I always thought that a thesis could be challenged and disputed, especially at university level.

That's not apposite to a Thai defamation case and has nothing to do with academic "disputation"

In this case there are five defendants in a court of law ..

1 for writing a thesis

4.For approving or passing it.

How can you do your job with the ever present fear of a defamation case looming over your head?

In a country that is so far behind the curve, educationally speaking, this form of tyranny has kept Thailand in check for many a long year.

Edited November 10, 2021 by Odysseus123

[PETERTHEEATER]

1 hour ago, HAPPYNUFF said:

the  common joke amongst the  students, particularly the females, was "its a lay for an A",

Hence the expression....'hen party'?