Student activists at Thammasat and Chulalongkorn universities have ignited campaigns against two Constitutional Court judges who serve as guest lecturers at their institutions. The move comes in the wake of a controversial court ruling last Wednesday that resulted in the disbandment of the Move Forward Party (MFP).
On Saturday, the Thammasat University Student Council Rangsit Campus, along with the committee of law students, posted an open letter on Facebook. The letter urges law students at Thammasat to sign a petition seeking the dismissal of Udom Rathamarit, a Constitutional Court judge, from his role as a special lecturer. The student groups accuse Judge Rathamarit of failing to exemplify ethical standards and bringing embarrassment to the legal community with a constitutional interpretation in the MFP ruling that contradicts his own teachings.
The students plan to submit the petition, accompanied by signatures, to the dean of Thammasat’s Faculty of Law tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Student Council of Chulalongkorn University has taken a different approach. They have invited Jiraniti Havanon, another Constitutional Court judge and special lecturer at Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Law, to a meeting scheduled for 1 pm tomorrow. This meeting will be broadcast live on the council’s Facebook page, allowing public engagement and questions.
In their invitation, the council expressed concerns that the Constitutional Court judges did not adequately address the Election Commission’s (EC) failure to adhere to court-mandated procedures properly. They argued that the core principle dictating that dissolution should only be a last resort was ignored. Additionally, the student council believes the ruling contradicts the principles of the Legal State and the Rule of Law, potentially harming the educational standards of Chulalongkorn law students, both current and future.
Nakarin Mektrairat, president of the Constitutional Court, refrained from commenting on the students’ initiatives against the court judges. He also declined to discuss the court’s expected ruling tomorrow on Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s fate.
In related developments, Warner Music Thailand issued a public apology on Sunday night for an inappropriate post that appeared on its official Facebook page the previous day. The post featured a doctored image of the Constitutional Court’s judges with backgrounds of portraits of the King and King Rama IX. The image, deemed disrespectful and potentially violating lese majeste law, was swiftly replaced with an apology following significant backlash on social media.
Warner Music Thailand explained that the employee responsible for creating and posting the image did so without authorization. As a result, the employee is set to undergo a disciplinary hearing for actions that contravened the company’s rules and professional standards.
Students should focus on their studies instead of challenging judges with decades of experience. The judicial system has its checks and balances.
John, part of being a student is learning to engage critically with the world around you. These judges should be held accountable for their actions.
I get what you’re saying, Sarah, but it’s naive to think the students know the full impact of such complex legal decisions.
True, but every voice counts in a democracy. If we don’t speak up, who will?
Judges are not gods! They can make mistakes, and they must face consequences just like the rest of us.
The ruling to dissolve the Move Forward Party is outrageous! These students have every right to be furious. The judiciary needs reform.
Ananya, passionate as you are, dissolving a political party must have had legal grounds. The judiciary doesn’t operate on whims.
Lawrence, just because something is written in law doesn’t mean it’s just. Laws can be flawed and need to be challenged.
Plus, the interpretation of the law is crucial. And when it’s contradictory, it shakes the faith in the judiciary.
The activism shown by these students is commendable. They are the future of our country and their voices should not be stifled.
I don’t trust the courts anymore. Judges seem more like politicians than impartial adjudicators nowadays.
Sadly, that’s a sentiment growing among many. Transparency and accountability are critical.
It’s sad when institutions lose public trust. But activism like this can help rebuild it.
Bringing embarrassment to the legal community? That’s rich. The whole system is a mess.
The public apology from Warner Music was swift and necessary. Mixing entertainment with sensitive political issues was a poor choice.
Exactly. Such actions only serve to inflame tensions and don’t contribute to constructive dialogue.
True, but freedom of expression includes satire. We shouldn’t be too quick to judge.
NickJ, satire is one thing, but disrespecting national symbols and figures is another. There’s a line.
I don’t get why the students are so angry. The judges are just doing their jobs. Maybe they should try to understand the legal reasoning behind the verdict first.
Sena, when the ‘job’ disrupts democracy, it should be questioned. Understanding the law doesn’t mean blindly accepting it.
Well said, Kai! Questioning authority is a healthy part of democracy.
I can see your point, but I believe in respecting the system. Change should come from within, not from external pressure.
I’m glad the student councils are taking different approaches. It shows the diversity of thought and strategy among young activists.
They should focus more on grassroots movements rather than targeting individual judges. Broader issues matter more.
Teachers should practice what they preach. If his ruling contradicts his teachings, then it’s right for the students to call him out.
Nithin, hypocrisy in educators undermines their authority. Students have a right to demand consistency.
But aren’t there more effective ways than petitions? Dialogue and discussion might be better.
It’s a worrying sign when judges influence political dynamics. The independence of judiciary should be maintained.
The students have guts! It’s refreshing to see young people so passionate about the rule of law and justice.
Kim, I agree! They’re standing up for what they believe in. We need more of this courage.
Why wasn’t there a harsher penalty for the Warner Music employee? The image was highly disrespectful.
Penalties won’t change much. Proper training and understanding are key to preventing these mistakes.