Bangkok Post

Some of the students were clad in only boxer shorts, with protest banners wrapped around the lower half of their body. They also held up written messages opposing the privatisation of their university.

Photo by Post Today

Nipitpon Kamyos, an engineering student who led the group, submitted a letter to House Speaker Somsak Kiatsuranont, through his aide Wattana Sengpairaw, and to Tuang Anthachai, chairman of the Senate committee on human rights and freedom, asking them to order the university’s executives to postpone the planned meeting to consider the Kasetsart University Bill. 

Mr Nipitpon said the bill had been handled without any participation by students, lecturers, other employees or  members of the public. 

He accused the university management of publicly claiming that all stakeholders on the campus agreed with the privatisation plan, despite their expressing constant opposition.

There had been no studies to identify the pros and cons of how privatisation might affect the quality of education there, or if it would cause financial problems for people. 

Mr Nipitpon said some provisions needed to be amended because they gave too much power to the university council. The bill also appointed the rector as head of a panel to investigate corruption, which meant that person would examine his own administration.

The students vowed to continue to protest until they received a response to their request.