The Office of the Higher Education Commission has sent a circular to rectors of all universities to keep an eye on students’ stage performances which may contain distorted political content and incite unrest and divisiveness in society.

According to Matichon, the Office of the Higher Education Commission under the Ministry of Education sent the letter to all universities on 29 July.

The letter states that the Office has received complaints about university students’ stage performances which convey political opinions in ways that distort facts and incite unrest and divisiveness in society.

The Office considers that it is the responsibility of university executives to monitor such activities and ensure their content is politically neutral.  Efforts should be made to raise understanding among all students to foster reconciliation, unity and peacefulness in the country.

Kamchorn Tatiyakawee, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office, who issued the letter, insisted that it was not a ban.  Students still can hold activities, but executives should oversee the content.

Parinya Thewanaruemitrakul, Thammasat’s Deputy Rector on student affairs, said that the letter may be well-intentioned, but might pose problems in practice at some universities which might interpret it in ways that affect the rights and freedoms of students, as political neutrality means different things to different people.

M.R. Kanlaya Tingsaphat, Chulalongkorn’s Deputy Rector, said that Chulalongkorn University had no problems with complying with the letter, because it already had a policy to foster reconciliation.

But Phattaranan Limudomporn, a political science student activist at the same university, said that such an order went against democratic principles and he expected many students would raise questions about it.