Letter from Prison: A student writes to his professor

Rangsiman Rome is 1 of the 7 students who was arrested and is being detained as a result of campaigning around the constitutional referendum. He dictated this letter to Somkit Lertpaithoon to a friend who came to visit him at the prison. Somkit is the rector of Thammasat University, the professor who teaches the course on basic rights at the university, and a member of the National Legislative Assembly that produced the Referendum Act.

Rangsiman Rome distributes Vote No flyers before he was arrested by military on 23 June 2016. Photo courtesy of iLaw

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Dear Professor Somkit Lertpaithoon,

Hello, how are you? Are you aware that I am currently being detained in prison? I am doing fine, even though it is hot, crowded, and my basic rights have been restricted to a significant degree. But I can still cope with it.

I don’t know if you remember, but I was in your LA150 class and still remember what you taught me. And, even though you are in the National Legislative Assembly, with whom I and my friends do not at all agree with, I still respect you because you provided me with knowledge. It is a shame that you had a role in drafting the Referendum Act, which is the reason why I and 6 other students have had to be detained in the prison and lose our basic rights.

Professor, let me ask you a question. Did what we do result in the distortion of the content of the constitution draft? Because if we did not distort it or do anything wrong, then I and my friends should not be in prison.

I hope that you will read this letter.

With respect and fondness always,

Your student always,

Rangsiman Rome

Note: LA 150 is a course on basic rights and is an elective course at Thammasat University.

Source: จดหมายจากเรือนจำ จากศิษย์ถึงอาจารย์ผู้สอนวิชาสิทธิพื้นฐานและผู้เขียน กม.ประชามติ

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