The student, the Penguin and the king: elite Thai university roiled by dissent

Just a few years ago, student activism and protests were a rarity at Chulalongkorn University – considered Thailand’s most elite and staunchly conservative campus. Yet Thailand’s oldest university, named after King Chulalongkorn, has since become yet another battleground for debate over the role of Thailand’s monarchy and political system.

On Saturday, the head of the student union, Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, said he had been removed from his post by the university, which accused him of activities that damaged its reputation, undermined public order and were incompatible with Thai culture.

“They think I’m symbolic of something they have to get rid of, because now the younger generation are very radical,” he said, adding that it was likely that the university administration wanted to remove anyone who might spur on activism among younger students.

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