Silpakorn University philosophy lecturer Asst. Prof. Boonsong Chaisinghanon has told Prachatai that he has refused to hand over examination papers and score details from his Thai Civilization courses. The materials were requested by the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Arts, asking for them to be handed over by 20 July to allow the police to press lèse majesté charges against him. Asst. Prof. Boonsong claims that doing so will affect the rights of his students, since the answer sheets should be viewed only by the instructor. It is therefore beyond his powers to hand over the examination papers and the score details. The Acting Dean would have to take responsibility for the consequences of overriding this decision, he said.

The embattled lecturer told Prachatai that he has been informed by the Acting Dean that he must submit a memo to explain his reasons for reusing to deliver the documents. The memo will then be submitted to the police. However, before making any decision on this, Asst. Prof. Boonsong asked the Acting Dean for the official request from the investigating officers and the Acting Dean promised to show him the document.

When the lecturer asked the Acting Dean how the examination papers had been leaked to police in the first place, he was informed that the materials had been sent to the police at their request. According to Asst. Prof. Boonsong, under normal procedures, his consent should have been sought before the Acting Dean permitted the hand over of the examination papers.

Asst. Prof. Boonsong further said that some students informed him that two lecturers had asked them for the notes they took on his Thai Civilization course. The students gave their notes to the lecturers thinking they were needed for improving the course. Also, police officers came to the Faculty and requested a meeting with some students. They were asked if they thought Asst. Prof. Boonsong's lectures were tantamount to defaming the monarch. Though shocked by the police inquiry, many students replied they did not think the lecture was slanderous to the King.

In addition, the police took excerpts from the students' notes and asked the university's lecturers if they thought the words could be construed as lèse majesté. According to Asst. Prof. Boonsong, such an investigative approach by the police may lead to a distortion of facts since the subject is taught by a couple of instructors, and they may not now know which content came from which lecturer.

Meanwhile, several academics led by Assoc. Prof. Somkiat Tangnamo, the President of the Midnight University, have come out to ask their fellow academics, students, media and general public to send moral support to Asst. Prof. Boonsong to defend academic freedom. Those interested in writing to support the lecturer are asked to send their messages to [email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected].

Related News: Thai lecturer sued for lèse majesté

Translated by Pipob Udomittipong