No campus campaigns, Nitirat told

Thammasat denies group use of its facilities; rector's Facebook page erupts as critics, supporters square off

Thammasat University yesterday banned the use of its facilities to campaign against the lese majeste law in a move that would likely apply more heat on the controversial Nitirat group and cause an uproar among the group's supporters.

"The university is a state agency. If we allow [them to continue their campaign], people may understand that Thammasat agrees with or disagrees with the campaign. [The campaign] could also cause severe conflicts inside the university campus [and] we may not be able to care for the safety of staff and property," rector Somkid Lertpaithoon wrote on his Facebook page yesterday.

A hotbed of political activism in the 1970s, Thammasat is now in an awkward position as its students, faculty and alumni are bitterly split over Article 112 of the Penal Code.

The Nitirat group, which includes many lecturers from the university, is crusading against this law.

The university's bombshell decision immediately drew both support and a huge outcry.

An hour after Somkid's Facebook update, more than 100 comments had been posted. Critics cited the university's historic role in politics as evidence of an ideology betrayed.

Human rights activist Pokpong Lawansiri said it was a "sad and embarrassing" day. The university - every square inch of it - has been the battleground for freedom for a long time, he said.

"Why don't you just destroy the statue of university founder Pridi Banomyong, former rector Puay Ungpakorn and the heroes of the October 14/October 6 incidents altogether?" he said.

Se Serinism said on the Facebook page that it's understandable that the university is under pressure but it's too much to have such an instruction to obstruct freedom on the campus.

Jaranwat Yainirat said it's very common for there to be differences at Thammasat but people on campus always respect the opinions of others.

"I came to study here because of this reason but what happens to my university now?" he said.

Squilla Blooming said she disagreed with the Nitirat group but never thought the rector would decide to suppress their opinion.

Chartbhun Saipradit supported Somkid's decision, saying the university is a place for knowledge. It should not allow political propaganda.

Thammasat political science lecturer Kasian Tejapira posted on Facebook that it was a backward step for Thammasat alumni who oppose the push for a change or revocation to the laws related to lese majeste.

He said it should be debated clearly how the campaign violates the Constitution.

He said the Constitution advocated freedom of education, research and the publication of academic research as long as it does not contravene civil duties or morality.

Kasian said Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat staged a coup in 2501 BE, which was the same year as the group of 2501 Thammasat alumni and they might now agree with the toppling of the Constitution.

Spokesmen from both the Democrat and Pheu Thai parties asked the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to probe the operations of illegal websites including those violating the lese majeste law.

Mallika Boonmeetrakul from the Democrats and Prompong Nopparit from Pheu Thai greeted each other as they filed their petitions.

Mallika also called on the DSI to take action against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung and ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap for malfeasance, claiming that such illegal websites had even mushroomed over the past two months.

She said there were 280 URLs before but now there are 483 URLs. The ICT minister hardly takes legal action against the wrongdoers, she said, adding she found only four cases had gone to court.

Pravesana Mulpramook, deputy director-general of the DSI, who received the petitions, said the agency would look into the case. If it finds grounds for malfeasance, it would pass the case on to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

The DSI has established a special anti-lese majeste websites unit, he said.

Pol General Worapong Chiewpree-cha, who is in charge of a panel monitoring illegal distribution of information through ICT, said that from December 7-January 24, the committee blocked 1,156 URLs.