Let students have their say

In a noteworthy response to the ongoing political conundrum, the House of Representatives this week set up a panel to listen to the complaints of student protesters. During a house debate on Wednesday and Thursday, MPs from both sides expressed concerns over the political situation, with students taking politics into the streets. The MPs’ move was in response to a rally at Democracy Monument on July 18 led by the Free Youth group which saw students turn up en masse.

It was the first major political activity since the Covid19 pandemic became a serious health threat, causing the suspension of similar activities for much of this year.

There were three demands: constitutional amendment, an end to the intimidation of activists and political opponents, and House dissolution which would mean the PM having to relinquish power.

Since the July 18 rally, students appear to have shrugged off the emergency decree, announcing a series of protests at various venues.

As the Prayut Chan-o-cha government fumbles, it’s the lawmakers who have show decisiveness by raising the matter in the Lower House. Many expressed concerns over the possibility of more bloodshed, like what happened during the student-led uprising in October 1973.

The worse part of this whole episode was the police and members of officialdom who went against the government’s instruction not to use the controversial emergency decree against protesting students.

This week saw some police blatantly cross the line by “visiting” some protesters and their families in what could be deemed as harassment.

Meanwhile, police spokesman Pol Col Kritsana Pattanacharoen, on Thursday insisted political gatherings are still banned under the emergency decree and vowed action would be taken against the leaders of the July 18 rally, which will likely stoke more anger.

The politicians are on the right track by taking up the issue through a panel. Submitting the proposal to the Lower House was Chakkrapan Pornimit from the ruling Palang Pracharath Party.

It won support from other parties including the Democrats, Pheu Thai, Bhumjaithai, and Move Forward — a rare show of political solidarity.

“I want parliament to act as a neutral party to connect with these youths and listen to their views,” Mr Chakrapan said at during the parliamentary session.

Some MPs have also agreed that students should be allowed to have representatives on the panel.

Yet, some observers are not so optimistic. They doubt if the House panel will achieve anything. Worse, some see it as a way of stringing the students along with no intent to tackle their concerns. This would be wrong.

Coalition MPs should do their best to convey the views of the young people to the prime minister and those higher up in government and make sure that the students’ concerns are addressed accordingly.

The lawmakers in both camps must join hands and push for charter amendment to ensure at the very least that undemocratic elements, such as the Senate’s power of intervention, be removed or better yet a new charter drafting team is formed.

University administrators should not bar students from holding rallies. This is a freedom of speech matter that must be respected. What the administrators should do is to make sure that everyone plays by the rules.

In this respect, someone must also give the students a slap on the wrist, so they stop trying to draw the monarchy into politics.