Dissension against the ruling junta and its May 22 takeover, sparked by last week’s detention of five Khon Kaen University protesters, escalated Monday with student groups in Bangkok and Chiang Mai littering universities with anti-coup leaflets.
Eight Thammasat University students were held briefly for "attitude adjustment" after they scattered leaflets at the Tha Prachan campus accusing the junta of ruling the country with force.
Students members of the anti-coup League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy (LLTD) distributed leaflets criticising the junta in Thammasat University before being detained briefly at Chana Songkhram police station and released without charge.
The leaflets contained an excerpt of a poem written by late left-wing intellectual Jit Phumisak, stating that, "...in the era of black devils, the country is ruled by gun smoke; But men will remain men."
The group reportedly scattered the leaflets on the campus's football pitch, but were barred from continuing by university staff. They then moved to the front of the school before a group of military personnel and police took them to the police station.
The six men and two women - members of the anti-coup League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy - were detained briefly at Chana Songkhram police station. Authorities recorded their personal information, held an "attitude adjustment" talk and released them without pressing any charges.
The six men are Sirawat Saereethiwat, Sukrit Piansuwan, Kan Kuiroongroj, Worayuth Moonsert, Pattanakawin Choochuan, Suppachai Siangchan and the two women are Thararat Panya and Natcha Kongdom.
The message in the leaflets is the same one that currently serves as the Facebook cover photo of Thammasat University history lecturer Somsak Jeamthirasakul, who has called for reform of the monarchy.
Mr Somsak kept a low profile after the May 22 coup, but re-emerged Nov 22 on Facebook using lines from the poet who died in 1966. He also posted a message describing his life after attackers fired shots at his home in February, forcing him to live elsewhere since. He also thanked people who helped him.
Chiang Mai action
In Chiang Mai, leaflets inviting students to discuss activities "under martial law" tomorrow were strewn inside the main building at Chiang Mai University, Krungthep Turakit reported.
University officials said they didn't know what group made the leaflets or planned the Tuesday discussion because no one had applied to hold a meeting there, said Assoc Prof Thanarak Suwanprapit, a deputy rector.
On Monday afternoon, a student group called the Liberal Assembly of Chiang Mai University for Democracy issued a statement on its Facebook page regarding "threats to students and people".
The statement, which carried a symbolic picture of a student holding a "No Thai Coup" sign while raising three fingers, urged the National Council for Peace and Order to lift martial law and stop violating human rights.
The group also called for all sides to participate in national reform. The statement continued by saying that the junta needs to understand that, as a government, it must be accountable nor beyond criticism.
The group also demanded the junta stop harassing students and people who express their political views.
Chiang Rai on Saturday, meanwhile, saw anti-coup messages and symbols painted near an army base where the interior minister was scheduled to visit.