Thai university row arouses fear of bloodshed
The Thai political crisis has reached another boiling point, with hardline royalists accusing a group of young law professors from the esteemed Thammasat University of attempting to overthrow the monarchy. These professors, calling their group Nitirat (law for the people), have proposed the amendment of the draconian lese-majeste law. If successful, it would put the interests of the Thai elites aligning themselves with the monarchy in jeopardy.
The royalists have even threatened to behead members of the Nitirat and put their heads on stakes outside the university.
Meanwhile, the rector of Thammasat, Somkit Lertpaithoon, issued a ban against any discussion of the lese-majeste law within the walls of the university, breaking a tradition of academic freedom, for which the university was well known. Somkit's opposition was understandable; he was part of the committees drafting the constitution for the military government in the aftermath of the 2006 coup.
Nitirat says reform to the law is imperative and must proceed immediately to prevent the monarchy from being further politicised by the royalists themselves. It has proposed lowering penalties for the offence lese-majeste. The recent case of a 62-year-old man jailed for 20 years for sending four text messages deemed insulting to the queen and crown prince shocked Thais.
While the Nitirat is fighting to maintain its space for academic freedom, 224 noted international scholars, writers and activists have sent an open letter to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra supporting the call for reform and expressing grave concern over the use of the law, Article 112 of the criminal code, and the erosion of the rights of those who face charges under it. The letter notes that 'Article 112 has become a powerful tool to silence political dissent, and in particular, any dissent interpreted as disloyalty to the monarchy'. Among the signatories are Noam Chomsky, Amitav Ghosh, Tariq Ali, Chris Hedges and Robert Meeropol.
There have been growing fears among the Thai public of a new round of violent crackdown against professors and students of Thammasat University. Memories of 1973 and 1976 still linger in the minds of many Thais, when Thammasat students fighting against despotic regimes were massacred after being accused of plotting to topple the monarchy.
Thirty-six years on, the monarchy continues to take centre stage in the Thai crisis. With the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej coming to an end, the witch-hunt has intensified. Given the uncertainty over the royal succession, bloody confrontations could indeed become inevitable.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun is a fellow at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
