Two lecturers and a former student at Chiang Mai University have been indicted on charges relating to an incident in October 2021, when students took over the University Art Centre after the Faculty of Fine Arts and the university administration prohibited them from showing their final theses, some of which dealt with social and political themes.

<p>On 10 November, a scuffle broke out in front of Phupingrajanivej police station when police tried to seize a banner from students and activists who went to the station in support of 2 Chiang Mai University (CMU) lecturers and 1 CMU student being charged there. The clash left two protesters with minor injuries. Their banner carried the innocuous message <span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA">&ldquo;</span>Art is short. A criminal case is long.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Students, academics, and artists have demanded that Chiang Mai University (CMU) launch an investigation against Faculty of Fine Arts lecturer Pongsiri Kiddee, after he filed a defamation lawsuit against art critic and writer Pearamon Tulavardhana for an article criticizing an exhibition featuring his work. &nbsp;</p>

<p>The former dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, has filed a trespassing charge against two lecturers and a student for taking over the university art centre in October 2021 after the Faculty and the university administration prohibited them from showing their final theses, some of which dealt with social and political themes.</p>

<p>The Chiang Mai Administrative Court ruled in favour of students from the Media Arts and Design Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, who <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/9505">filed for a temporary injunction</a> on 18 October after the University administration prohibited them from showing their final theses in the University Art Centre because some pieces dealt with social and political themes.</p>

<p>The Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, and several other faculty personnel attempted on Monday (22 March) to remove students&rsquo; art projects from the Media Arts and Design Department building without first informing the students, while the Faculty claims that some items were removed because they could violate the law.</p>