Stop students from calling for monarchy reform
Thai authorities have summoned the heads of universities to tell them to stop students demanding reform of the monarchy, warning that such calls could lead to violence, a member of the military-appointed Senate said yesterday.
Thailand has faced near daily protests since mid-July calling for the departure of PM Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, and for a new constitution and elections.
Some groups have also listed 10 demands to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn's Royal Palace, breaking a long-standing taboo in the Southeast Asian country. Among the reforms sought are a reduction in the king's constitutional powers as well as his personal control of the royal fortune and some units of the army.
Senator Somchai Sawangkarn told Reuters that letters had been sent by state-appointed provincial governors to university heads, summoning them to meetings ahead of protests planned on Sept 19 in Bangkok and elsewhere.
A letter to one university reviewed by Reuters said: "There are concerns about the behavior of some groups taking part in the protest that are inappropriate, for example those that want to topple the monarchy and those that demand voiding Article 112 of the criminal code."
Article 112 refers to Thailand's lese majeste laws, which sets a jail term of up to 15 years for insulting the king.
It said police would take legal action against anyone behaving inappropriately at protests while the digital ministry would take legal action against anyone using social media "to distort and defame the monarchy" or to incite protests.
A participant at one meeting said authorities asked his university to draw up a list of potential troublemakers. Most Thai universities are sponsored by the state.
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