Since the May 2014 Coup, scholars at Thailand’s institutions of higher learning
have faced ongoing harassment and intimidation. Military presence on campus has
now been coupled with new rules and restrictions on everyday instruction and
standard university activities. The intellectual and pedagogical environment
for Thai professors is increasingly suffocating with no end in sight. Out of
frustration, Thai historian Dr Attachak Sattayanurak (Faculty of Humanities,
Chiang Mai University) and seven colleagues held a news conference on 31
October to request that the military reduce its involvement in university life.
Following this news conference, the involved professors were charged for
violating NCPO Order 7/2014, for gathering in a group
larger than five people for political purposes. Most have been
summoned to appear individually to police in relation to these
charges beginning Tuesday 24 November. Imprisonment up to one year plus
additional fines are possible. Out of principle, Dr Attachak has pledged to
refuse bail if detained.
In response to these events, Dr Anusorn Unno (Department of Sociology
and Anthropology, Thammasat University) drafted the following statement in his
capacity as Coordinator of the Academic Network for Detained Students (ANDS).
ANDS is currently collecting signatures in support of the letter from
scholars in Thailand and abroad. Dr Anusorn plans to submit the letter to Prime
Minister Prayuth on Monday, 23 November. Timely support is thus needed.
As a friend and research colleague of Dr Attachak, and in support of the
other unfairly charged professors, I add my name in support of Dr Anusorn’s
letter.
If any New Mandala readers
would like to pledge your signature to this letter, please send ANDS a short
email with your name, professional title, and your institutional affiliation
(to: anusorn.unno@gmail.com);
please write “Support Academic Freedom” in the subject box.
Dr Attachak and colleagues extend their deepest appreciation for your
support of academic freedom in Thailand.
Respectfully,
Robert Dayley, PhD
Professor
The College of Idaho
Robert Dayley, PhD
Professor
The College of Idaho
The ANDS letter to be submitted to Prime Minister Prayuth on
Monday 23 November:
Academic
Network for Detained Students
Statement
no. 6
Universities
are not barracks
Thailand
is not a concentration camp
On 31 October 2015, a group of academics which call themselves “Network
of University Academics” issued a statement “Universities are not barracks”
which reaffirms the liberty to pursue knowledge for our teachings. However some
members of the network were summoned by the police and charged with “having a
political gathering of five persons or more in violation of the order of the
head of the National Council for Peace and Order” (NCPO), a crime which carries
a sentence of up to 1 year in prison or a fine of up to 20,000 Baht or both.
The Academic Network for Detained Students (ANDS) views such a charge
against the academics to be in violation of our rights and liberties, aiming at
threatening those who express opinions in contrary to the position of the NCPO.
The threat was made despite the fact that the academics openly expressed their
opinion in good faith and with good intention in accordance with their academic
duty to share ideas and knowledge with the public. Other academics who called
for the release of the students from detention and expressed their views are
still threatened and the students are banned from and pressured against
organizing political activities. Meanwhile, the NCPO has ordered an inclusion
of university teaching materials saluting the military, which completely
contravenes the principle of academic rights and liberty.
We reaffirm that “universities are not barracks”. Universities are
places to pursue knowledge, to have free discussions and debates on the basis
of facts and rationale, bringing about new knowledge and the growth in wisdom
as the world is changing and new solutions are required for Thailand’s
problems. The liberties to pursue knowledge and to express views are therefore
the founding elements of universities and the society.
We reaffirm that “Thailand is not a concentration camp”. The Thai people
enjoy diverse political views and beliefs. The path towards a peaceful society
requires the liberty to believe and to express views based on facts and
rationale. However, the Thai people are being treated as if we are detainees in
concentration camps; we are being instilled with a singular ideal or belief in
order to have the society fallen under a power structure controlled by a
certain groups of individuals. This is done by shutting our ears and eyes,
imposing force, threats and aggression using legal power that is unjust towards
those holding differing opinions. This will bring about further conflicts while
equality, liberty, democracy, fairness and peace will not be achieved in the
Thai society.
ANDS members whose names appear following this statement therefore
demand the following from the NCPO:
1.
End all threats and aggressions
against academics who expressed their political views in good faith;
2.
End all bans on political
activities and end all threats and aggressions against the students and
citizens who wish to organize them; and
3.
End all interventions to make
university teachings comply with the guidelines or substance preferred by the
NCPO.
Should the NCPO ignore these demands, the ANDS shall consider the next
level of actions on the matter.
With our faith in rights, liberties, and equality
Academic Network for Detained Students
23 November 2015
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