Decades after October '73, mass student activism is fast becoming a 'sweet memory'

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40TH ANNIVERSARY OF OCT 14 UPRISING
Decades after October '73, mass student activism is fast becoming a 'sweet memory'
Pravit Rojanaphruk,
Hataikarn Treesuwan
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The days when tens of thousands of student activists would take to the streets to oust a dictator, and young leaders played a leading role in society, as epitomised by the October 14, 1973 uprising, are all but a sweet memory.

Nowadays, a gathering would be considered a huge success if student activists manage to muster even 500 of their fellow students to seek redress for an issue, said Supat Arsasri, secretary of the Students Federation of Thailand (SFT).

SFT is the Kingdom's most prominent activist body with 30 student organisations as members.

Supat, who is studying History at Ramkhamhaeng University, said there were several factors as to why student movements have declined so much in number and importance.

Students these days appear to be more preoccupied with their own lives, and social media have made it easy for one and all to air their thoughts. Also, he said, students now push for reform rather than being revolutionaries as in the 1970s, when socialist and communist ideologies were dominant. They tend to focus more on smaller issues that affect them directly instead of trying to change the entire society, he said.

Besides, even the SFT - which was formed in 1984 - finds itself straying sometimes, he said, citing the federation's tacit support of the 2006 coup as one of its biggest blunders.

Yet this was not necessarily a bad thing, Supat said. Many students used the social-media network to learn about problems and even launch specific campaigns against issues that may have an impact on society.

"Social media is an easily accessible tool that can be used to wage battles," he said, citing Aum Neko, a transgender sophomore student at Thammasat University, as an example. Aum Neko single-handedly launched a campaign - both on- and off-line - against the regulation of students having to wear uniforms.

Aum, who already has more than 12,000 followers, explained that the quality of activism had not changed, though the number of activists had dropped a lot compared to four decades ago. She puts this down to the fact that the struggle against dictatorship isn't as clear as it was in the past, when Army generals ruled the Kingdom and it had no constitution.

However, people still do not enjoy full freedom, she said, citing the restrictions placed by the ICT Ministry, which continues blocking websites deemed critical or offensive to the monarchy. "The government has become cleverer at discouraging students from questioning history and the powers-that-be," Aum said.

Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, 16, a young student activist, concurs. "The burning spirit for what is just and right is the same, the only difference is the method used. In that [1970s] era, there was print media, symposiums and newsletters, but today the communication technology is a lot wider with numerous outlets."

However, he said, though the reach of Facebook is wider, it cannot replace face-to-face activism, adding that students needed to increase their knowledge and learn to launch debates on political history.

"Do not let the [unfulfilled] dreams of the previous generation make us believe that those ideologies are not realisable or nonsense. Socialism and justice are still possible," he said.

Outside the world of activism, students like Jakkrit Witsuphalert - a sophomore at Thammasat University who is studying International Relations - concedes that students nowadays are more self-centred. "We study more for our grades, ourselves and our family," he said.

The asphalt streets that student activists marched down have been replaced by a street in virtual reality, he said. He could not envision a massive turnout like the one that was seen on October 14, 1973 anytime soon.

Jeerawut Singharaj, a senior student from the Faculty of Liberal Arts at Maejo University, said student activists still played a leading role in society, even though it was not as strong as in previous decades. Last month, he observed students at Ramkhamhaeng University who were upset by the government’s rubber policies try to invite fellow university students to join a rally. However, they were unsuccessful, only managing to find 25 people who would join them. "If it involves a political issue, students are especially concerned that protesting might affect their positions as students," he said.

Many students want to share their opinions, but don't want to be seen doing so publicly. This is one reason why Facebook has become a tool to set many political agendas, according to Jeerawut. "Student activists will take action if the issues affect them directly, such as educational problems, or if friends are also joining a rally, or they trust the rally's leader. If these three conditions are not present, students will only join a political rally in order to get a photo of themselves to show on their Facebook page," he said.


-- The Nation 2013-10-14

[tomross46]

Now with government control of the media. An example would be in the USA the control of the media, would make George Orwell happy. Say anything against the government and you will be branded a racist, or a radical. The government has all types of agencies to monitor and manipulate the citizens. The student uprising of 14 Oct., 73, was well organized and done face to face. No Facebook or other modern communication media. The marches to Washington DC in the late 60's and early 70's, was face to face and work of mouth, not by I-Phone. The uprising was done by students which had attended gatherings and openly discussed democracy and citizen rights. This could not be done today because, the monitoring of gatherings and movement of personnel are closely watched. If you are showing anti-government leanings, the police will be called out 40 police to 1 protester. Big Brother is Watching, 1984. .

[Pib]

Thais in general try to avoid conflict and being seen complaining in public...just their nature and culture. But give them a way to do it from behind their smartphones, and even better anonymously, then many of them will voice their opinions, which will still usually be relatively tame in nature in comparison to western opinions. Sure you can say this about many netizens all over the world, but many Thais will go to great length to avoid being involved in public conflict.

[Time Traveller]

Thais in general try to avoid conflict and being seen complaining in public...just their nature and culture. But give them a way to do it from behind their smartphones, and even better anonymously, then many of them will voice their opinions, which will still usually be relatively tame in nature in comparison to western opinions. Sure you can say this about many netizens all over the world, but many Thais will go to great length to avoid being involved in public conflict.

Maybe you were asleep and missed the countless public demonstrations and protests and riots that have occurred throughout the country in the last 6 years. Don't worry just go back to reassuring yourself that thais live up the stereotypes that you label them with.

Edited October 14, 2013 by Time Traveller

[NCFC]

My daughter spent four years in the university system here and neither she nor her friends were in the slightest bit interested in politics. They were all concerned with their future careers.

[h90]

Thais in general try to avoid conflict and being seen complaining in public...just their nature and culture. But give them a way to do it from behind their smartphones, and even better anonymously, then many of them will voice their opinions, which will still usually be relatively tame in nature in comparison to western opinions. Sure you can say this about many netizens all over the world, but many Thais will go to great length to avoid being involved in public conflict.

I know a lot Thais that are exactly the opposite.

And I think there are big regional and ethnic differences.

Southern Thais

Chinese heritage Thais

etc etc

[bkk_mike]

Why is it bad that students are more preoccupied with their coursework and what they're going to do after University?

Surely it means they don't think things are as awful as they were in 1973.

[wilcopops]

My daughter spent four years in the university system here and neither she nor her friends were in the slightest bit interested in politics. They were all concerned with their future careers.

Very sorry to hear that.

[wilcopops]

Thailand is ignoring their own history - they can't become a true democracy like this - I think that by any standards the lynching and burning students alive is unacceptable in a democracy. I also think that statements like the one made by Samak who was elected prime minister in 2008 are deplorable - When questioned about his role, he stated, "Only one died," and that one by accident.