As academic freedom is under threat since the military coup d'etat took place on 22 May, over 200 academics and university students on Wednesday urged the president of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand to review its role in upholding the principles of universities as the sources of wisdom and uphold the freedom of expression, especially in the universities. 

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Dear President of the Council of the University Presidents of Thailand,

Re: Request for protection of academic freedom in universities

Universities have a very important role to play during times of political transition, especially now as Thailand is supposedly entering into a period of reform. The university has a responsibility to be a source of wisdom and a venue for the exchange of knowledge. This will ensure the country’s future is sustainable and benefits all people in Thailand in a fair and just way.  The university must be a safe space where people who care about our society can express their various opinions freely without fear. It must be a place where ideas, suggestions, and views can be debated and discussed openly. A reformed political process must come from many voices and not just one.

The nation’s leaders claim that people are consulted and allowed to participate in a reform process; however, in practice there is little evidence for this. The nation’s leaders have been exercising their power to threaten and restrict academic freedom. Universities have been constantly instructed not to host academic activities. For the first time in modern Thai history, academic freedom has been severely attacked.

The recent restrictions of academic freedom are numerous. Among them are the following cases:

• In September 2014, military officers ordered students and academic staff who were facilitating an academic discussion at Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus to cancel the event. Students and academics were subjected to a so-called “attitude adjustment” session conducted by military officers, and the students and staff were instructed to sign a document stating that they will not engage in political activities in the future.

• Security forces dispersed a student demonstration to oppose the Mae Wong Dam project at Kasetsart University.  

• Chulalongkorn University was not allowed to organize public forum on 15 and 22 November 2014.

• Armed and uniformed military officers entered Burapha Univestity and Chiang Mai University.

• Military officers have threatened students in the  “Dao Din Students Group” from Khon Kaen University, and told their parents that military officers could “order the university to expel the students” which clearly demonstrates that Khon Kaen university is no longer able to follow the due legal process in administrating its student registration.

As a matter of principle, universities must maintain their integrity and autonomy. The evaluation of academic activities should be based on academic standards, and not political ones. Universities must be strictly protected as a space free from weapons. Universities must be free from any coercion or threats (for example to student status or academic positions). At this critical time Universities are one of the few safe space left to regain and rebuild social trust which has been seriously undermined by previous tragic incidents. Without participation, trust and understanding from the people in our society, any reform cannot reach its goals.

We, academics, students and university staff are deeply concerned that we cannot preserve academic freedom and uphold the principles of our universities. The university is expected to be a source of wisdom, a place of tolerance, and an institution which contributes to the development of the country. We strongly feel that it is our responsibility to insist in fundamental principles that university should be adhered to which are:

1. Academic freedom is a human right for academics, researchers, and students. Academic freedom includes freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of association, freedom to study and to teach, freedom of research and information, freedom of publication, and freedom to undertake academic activities outside classrooms. All of these are indispensible in developing people with a sense of social responsibility.

2. Academic freedom is not only a goal in itself. Academic freedom enables the university to maximize its human capacity for the benefit of the society. It makes it possible for universities to serve the common good of the society for the benefit of the society at large through searching for and disseminating knowledge and understanding, and through fostering independent thinking and expression in academic staff and students.

3. The State has a duty to promote and protect human rights, including academic freedom. States must be law abiding bodies, and this means following the international legal standards of human rights.

4. University administrators have a duty to protect and defend this academic freedom from any threat or interference. It is unacceptable that students, academics, university staff, and universities themselves have to request for permission from the NCPO before organizing any activities that might deem to be “a security threat or inciting conflict” because universities should demonstrate courage not to be subjected to self-censorship. Any decision to organize academic activities should be based on university's criteria and principles.

5. In the cases where some students and academics have initiated social activities to support local communities, that have faced difficulty in access to justice, these cases are a good practice for university community to demonstrate social responsibility. These cases are within the rights of students and academics and there is no intention to obstruct the national reform process. On the contrary, to transform social frustration into discussions and dialogues will contribute to the achievement of the reform.

We the undersigned, urge the Council of the University Presidents of Thailand and the university administrators of all universities to take specific measures as follows:

1. Publically declare their support for the principle of academic freedom, and ensure their institutions and academic communities have this freedom.

2. Actively defend the academic community from threats to academic freedom, and from any extra-judicial threat or interference by state authorities.

3. Publically call on the NCPO to recognize the autonomy of universities to make their own decisions on academic activities organized by students and university staff, and do this by rejecting the NCPO order which has created a climate of fear among students and university staff.

4. Support students, academic scholars, and university staff who fully exercise their academic freedom for the benefit of the society at large and not for any specific influence groups.

5. Ensure that political positions and opinions of university councils and university administrations do not result in restrictions to academic freedom of students and university staff.

We hope that these issues will be taken into your consideration.

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