Page 37 - 166 Varsity ebook

/ 35

pset by the government’s
Ucrackdown on protestors
during the 2019 social movement
in Thailand, more young people
choose to study law in hopes of
reforming the legal system in the
kingdom.

One of them is Thanawat Kleawk-
la, who now studies law at Chula-
longkorn University.

“I wanted to study political sci-
ence but I changed my mind af-
ter witnessing the injustice in the
social movement. Police fired tear
gas and water cannons to disperse
people who were just expressing
their discontent. It was really bru-
tal. Protest leaders were put into
indefinite detention without a fair
trial. What the government did Law students having a lecture at Thammasat Uni-
was unjust to the people,” he says.
versity. (Photo courtesy of Sutthita Suknut)

“One of the protest leaders was de-
tained while pending trial. He even Siripun* decided to study law after ernment propaganda,” Year Two
did a hunger strike for more than reading news about crackdowns Student adds.
a month to request bail. Accord- on protesters during the move-
ing to the constitution, an accused ment in 2019. Siripun wants to work for the gov-
person must be assumed innocent ernment to ensure that everyone
during a trial and granted bail. “Rubber bullets and water cannons can exercise their rights in Thai-
What they did was above the law,” were used to suppress the demon- land.
the 20-year-old student adds. stration. Why did the government
need to use violence against its Thailand’s political conflict and in-
Kleawkla is determined to apply own people? That was too much,” creasing number of prospective law
his knowledge in law to promote she says. students
justice in Thailand.
“The social movement has taught The pro-democracy movement
“I want to be a legal academic and me that politics affects ourevery- has been calling for the resignation
advise the government on how to day lives. We all have to live with of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-
set up a fair system, and reform the it. I want to know if those protests Ocha, the former army chief who
legal system in Thailand to make were really illegal as the govern- seized power in a 2014 coup and
sure everyone is equal before the ment claimed. I want to know my was later appointed as the premier.
law,” he says. rights and how to exercise them. Disillusioned by years of military
That is why I want to study law. I rule, protesters demand amend-
Another law major student Maysa do not want to be tricked by gov- ments to the constitution, a new