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'UNPRECEDENTED THREATS'
Academics push for intellectual freedom
The Nation

Letter to university presidents points to 'unprecedented threats' under junta

BANGKOK: -- A group of 201 academics from universities across the country yesterday called on the Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) to ensure and protect intellectual freedom that they said was being threatened under the current military administration.

The group submitted an open letter stating that students and university lecturers had witnessed unprecedented threats to their academic freedom even though the country was stepping into a reform process that needed freedom of expression in order to ensure its success.

"Universities have an important role in providing a guiding light for the country and being a centre where people can exchange opinions to ensure justice in society and create a sustainable future for the country. In order to achieve this purpose, academics and students in universities must be able to express their opinion freely and without fear," the letter said.

The letter dismissed the government's claim that it had allowed public participation in reform. "In reality, the government has exercised power against academic freedom. There has never been such severe threats and intimidation against freedom of expression in universities as is happening now," it said.

For instance, in September, soldiers ordered students and lecturers to stop an economic seminar at Chiang Mai University and invited them for an "attitude adjustment" session. They were ordered to sign an agreement that they would not carry out any more political activities.

In another incident, authorities ordered students who protested against construction of the Mae Wong Dam not to carry out a seminar scheduled to be held from November 15-22 at Kasetsart University and Chulalongkorn University.

The letter said some soldiers also demonstrated a show of force by appearing in uniform and fully armed at some educational institutions such as Chiang Mai University.

It said universities must be free from arms and threats so that students and academics could have intellectual freedom.

"Universities are the last resort to help restore public hope, faith and confidence that had fallen from a decade of political riots and unrest. Without this dim hope, reform will not be achieved," the letter said.

Security officials also threatened Khon Kaen University students who refused to sign an agreement not to stage anti-coup protests or the university would revoke their student status, the letter added.

It issued a five-point demand to the CUPT to demonstrate moral courage by declaring that it would protect academic freedom of student universities and lecturers.

'Prevent unjust interference'

The CUPT was asked to prevent threats and unjust interference by authorities in power. The National Council for Peace and Order was asked to provide university students and lecturers with academic freedom and allow them to exercise their judgement in accordance with ethics and codes of conduct.

The letter said that some of the NCPO's orders had caused students and educational officials to live in fear and that they were unable to express their opinions freely.

The CUPT was urged to promote academic freedom among educational communities so that students and lecturers were able to exercise their freedom in the country's interest and not for vested-interest groups.

The letter said that although the CUPT and the management of the universities were entitled to their political standing, they must not bring about any measures that deprive freedom of expression and academic freedom of students and university lecturers.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Academics-push-for-intellectual-freedom-30249561.html


-- The Nation 2014-12-11

[selftaopath]

Academics push for intellectual freedom

Humnnnn. Does that mean students can question teachers/professors? Institutions which disallow "questioning" the educational establishment might consider allowing "academic .... freedom" in said institution first.

I agree with freedom of speech at every level. Do educators?

[noitom]

Thais need more than a "letter" to be taken seriously.

[Don Aleman]

Before or after the " Book Burning Festival " ?

[Robby nz]

Perhaps they should be pushing to improve the performance of their own institutions first :

Only 3 Thai varsities in list of top 100 universities

[HeijoshinCool]

The letter said some soldiers also demonstrated a show of force by appearing in uniform and fully armed at some educational institutions such as Chiang Mai University.

​I'm starting too believe in karma.

A few years back, after paying cash for a full year's language course, I and 300 other students were threatened with arrest if we didn't immediately leave the campus after the university closed down the course without refunding our tuition.

Go Army!

[binjalin]

The letter said some soldiers also demonstrated a show of force by appearing in uniform and fully armed at some educational institutions such as Chiang Mai University.

​I'm starting too believe in karma.

A few years back, after paying cash for a full year's language course, I and 300 other students were threatened with arrest if we didn't immediately leave the campus after the university closed down the course without refunding our tuition.

Go Army!

that had nothing to do with this situation and shouting 'Go Army' because of a personal problem you had makes you a twisted fool and thank God academics are raising these issues

Edited December 11, 2014 by binjalin

[gemini81]

First they have to actually be intellectual; ok, never mind that passing idea.

[KhnomKhnom]

I know about censorship right here. I put a reasoned plea for academic freedom on thaivisa which had no condemnation of politics and no blame put on any one or govt. It was one academic from America with years of teaching in Thai university pleading for and justifying academic freedom with no mention of specific matters of our current days and pointing out the values to Thailand for such freedom. Nevertheless, in its fear, thaivisa took my message off. Living in fear of freedom is no good.

[gchurch259]

If you look at some of the "Liberal Higher Education Institutions in USA, Berkeley, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton you realize they are destroying the young people who only believe in "Big Me", "Little You" and instant gratification.

In recent interview most of them did not know who is Vice President, the Capital of the States and the location of some of the largest cities in the World, none of the wonders of the World.

Yes, they need more Liberal Education and Freedom of Speech and Though, but first, grab their ears and pull their heads out of their exhaust pipes !!

Edited December 11, 2014 by gchurch259

[lildragon]

The usual mob in here deflecting attention away from the army, turning up with guns, threatening teachers and students with 'attitude readjustment' at places were freedom of thought should be encouraged. Some of you need to take a good, hard and long look at yourselves.