Students protesters twice on Tuesday disrupted a speech on the proposed constitution by Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan.
Delivering his address at the Institute of East Asian Studies at the Rangsit campus of Thammasat University, Mr Meechai was interrupted first by three students who hoisted a banner saing "Don't hurt youth". The youths were led by high school student Prist "Penguin" Chiwarak from Triam Udomsueksa School, who is -general of the Education for Independence group.
University staff promptly escorted the teens out of the auditorium.
Mr Prist said he and his friends wanted to show their disapproval of the draft constitution, particularly its rollback of the country's free primary education programme. He had planned to read a letter aloud to the CDC chairman about Section 54 of the draft, which says the state will fund education from preschool to Mathayom 3, instead of the current Prathom 1 to Mathayom 6.
Mr Prist is the same youth that caused an uproar on Sept 7 when he raised a banner while Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was speaking at the Bangkok Cenvention Centre at Centara Grand Hotel.
Once the high schoolers were gone, Mr Meechai continued on with his speech, but not for long. He was again interrupted by a group of Thammasat University students who stormed into the meeting with a banner criticsing the draft constitution.
They were led by Sirawith "Ja Niew" Serithiwat, the previously arrested head of the the New Democracy Movement. They too were escorted from the hall.
Mr Sirawith said he wanted to ask some questions of Mr Meechai after his speech, but was blocked by university staff.
