Conservative, pro-establishment university, Chulalongkorn, on Friday canceled a planned student protest at the last minute due to what it says are security and safety issues. Despite the cancellation, student protesters told Thai Enquirer that the protests would go ahead.
Friday’s protest was the latest in a series of anti-government rallies planned by the students in the coming weeks. Student-led protests have gripped the country over the past two months with students calling for a rewrite of the military-drafted constitution, the dissolution of parliament, and the end to the harassment of activists by the state.
As the rallies continue, many speakers are beginning to touch upon the role of the Thai monarchy in politics.
On Friday, Chulalongkorn said it was canceling the protests because there was not enough time to ensure the safety of students and to ensure that the protests do not touch upon the monarchy and carried out in accordance with the law.
Student leaders told Thai Enquirer that it was a ‘shrewd’ move by the university but they would be carrying out the protest regardless.
“It is a calculated move by the university,” said Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal. “The protest will go ahead so they’re actually putting more students at risk by canceling the protest and threatening grades.”
Chulalongkorn University have not replied to requests for comment.