Thai officials pledge actions over violent anti-govt students

[webfact]

Officials Pledge Actions Over Violent Anti-Govt Students
By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- The Minister of Education, Mr. Jaturon Chaisaeng, has chaired a meeting with other officials to discuss possible actions against the vocational students who joined the anti-government protests in Lumpini Park and attacked a group of Redshirts earlier this week.

The meeting at the Ministry was joined by officials from Vocational Education Commission (VEC).

Hundreds of vocational students from various polytechnic colleges have joined the protest at the park in central Bangkok which is organised by the People′s Army Against Thaksin′s Regime.

The protests had been relatively peaceful, but on Sunday around 70 students rushed out of the park and attacked a group of Redshirts who were returning from their rally in Victory Monument, pelting them with rocks and other objects. The Redshirts have filed charge against the students.

However, Mr. Jaturon was informed by the VEC at the meeting that the students who attacked the Redshirts were in fact alumni of their colleges. Some graduated long ago, while others were expelled, the officials said, adding that all of these students had records of violent behaviour during their college years.

Nevertheless, the VEC is also designing procedures to prevent the enrolled students from "falling into trap laid by ill-wishers" who might exploit them for political gains, according to the officials. They said the vocational students also tend to believe what the senior students told them.

"The graduated seniors and those who didn′t make it to the graduation tried to meet with the current students, claiming that they wanted to give lecture on global warming, job application, and further education," but what they did was mobilising them for political protests, said one official.

Mr. Akanit Lkangsaeng, deputy secretary of the VEC, said that the VEC submitted warning to vocational colleges to make it clear to the students that protesting is allowed by the Constitution, but claiming to represent their colleges would harm the reputation of those institutions.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bandit Sribuddhangkul, vice secretary of the Private Education Commission (PEC), said that some private vocational colleges have indicated they would file charge against the students at Lumpini Park who claimed to represent their institutions during the rally.

Source: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM056ZzBOalU1T0E9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-08-31

[tominbkk]

The last thing the government wants is students having opinions or caring about politics.

[arthurboy]

Politicized students or paid thugs?

What do you reckon?

[Robby nz]

Does that mean they werent students at all but former students?

Sounds a bit like red schools, teaching students from a particular political prospective.

Sounds like someone's making it us as they go along.

When will we see the prosecution of the reds who fired the missiles at the white masks gathering?

In order to prevent double standards.

[NongKhaiKid]

Does that mean they werent students at all but former students?

Sounds a bit like red schools, teaching students from a particular political prospective.

Sounds like someone's making it us as they go along.

When will we see the prosecution of the reds who fired the missiles at the white masks gathering?

In order to prevent double standards.

This is what it boils down to and the expressions " anti-government " or " anti-red " immediately demands attention and action.

Such attention will never be given to the activities of the reds who are anti everything that does not fit their views and who know they can act with impunity as the government has shown time after time they will not take action against them.

[edwinchester]

The last thing the government wants is students having opinions or caring about politics.

I wouldn't worry too much. The Govt have previous for dealing with student protests.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[petedk]

Mr. Akanit Lkangsaeng, deputy secretary of the VEC, said that the VEC submitted warning to vocational colleges to make it clear to the students that protesting is allowed by the Constitution, but claiming to represent their colleges would harm the reputation of those institutions.

Damage the reputation of those institutions??????

What does the following do?

3 Arrested Over Deadly Stabbing Of Rival Student

By Khaosod Online

BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested 3 polytechnic students in connection with the murder of an 18-year old vocational student from a rival college in western Bangkok.

[hansnl]

Does that mean they werent students at all but former students?

Sounds a bit like red schools, teaching students from a particular political prospective.

Sounds like someone's making it us as they go along.

When will we see the prosecution of the reds who fired the missiles at the white masks gathering?

In order to prevent double standards.

I do fear for that you have to wait a very long time.

Selective justice, it seems to be.

[tomross46]

Reminds me of what I saw in 1973, when the government cracked down on students in Thamasat University, Even though PM Samak said only one person died. It is rumored that hundreds of bodies were trucked to a military base in Kanchaburi and the bodies were disposed of. Rise up against the dictator and you will die, George Orwell 1984. Has the Ratanagosin Hotel prepared?

[Emptyset]

Reminds me of what I saw in 1973, when the government cracked down on students in Thamasat University, Even though PM Samak said only one person died. It is rumored that hundreds of bodies were trucked to a military base in Kanchaburi and the bodies were disposed of. Rise up against the dictator and you will die, George Orwell 1984. Has the Ratanagosin Hotel prepared?

Samak was actually referring to 1976, where technical students were involved in the massacre of students from Thammasat. I assume that's what you meant too. The education minister, Chaturon, will also be well familiar with this incident as he was one of the Thammasat students in question, one of those who later fled to the jungle. Anyway, I can see where you're coming from to a degree, some of these technical students don't look too savoury:

And of course some of the ultra-royalism and nationalism which are part of these anti-government protests would not be out of place amongst the right-wing 1970s gatherings (same songs sung etc), but still we shouldn't automatically tar the technical students with the same brush. Give them the benefit of the doubt. It's one incident and I wouldn't compare throwing a few stones at some red shirts to one of the most brutal incidents in Thai history. That's just hyperbole, surely?

Edited August 31, 2013 by Emptyset

[chinostar]

Government has too much time or cannot prioritize.

Are students barred from demonstrating or only when against the Red Shirts?