2,000 rally against uni relocation plan

Uthenthawai students warn of stepped-up future protests

About 2,000 students and alumni from Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok yesterday rallied to protest against a plan to relocate the university's Uthenthawai campus.

Out on the streets: Students from the Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok’s Uthenthawai campus block a section of Phaya Thai Road in front of Chulalongkorn University to protest at Chulalongkorn University’s plan to reclaim land from the Uthenthawai campus. PATIPAT JANTHONG

They threatened to intensify future protests if the campus was shifted from its current Pathumwan site.
Chulalongkorn University (CU) leased out the Uthenthawai site in 1935, but the contract expired in 2003. CU now wants to take back the site to build a creative community-based innovation centre as part of a 4.6-billion-baht property development.

An alumnus from Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok’s Uthenthawai campus joins the protest yesterday. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL

Likit Jitprawat, head of the Uthenthawai Student Club and an engineering student, said the demonstrators wanted to send a clear message that the 21-rai plot of land does not belong to CU.
Mr Likit, who led the rally from the entrance of Uthenthawai campus on Phaya Thai Road to CU's rector office, said he had also submitted evidence to CU deputy rector Jesada Saengsupan to back up the protesters' claims.
He said Uthenthawai had ownership rights to the land, and asked CU to end the relocation plan.
"We come here to seek justice, and our evidence should be considered," Mr Likit said.
Security was on high alert for the rally as Uthenthawai students have a long history of being involved in Bangkok's inter-school brawls, especially with long-time tertiary rivals Pathumwan Institute of Technology.
About 400 local police officers were deployed to the rally site.
Mr Likit said the Uthenthawai campus was the country's first vocational training school capable of producing highly qualified civil engineering graduates.
Another student said: "We've stayed here for almost 80 years, so we won't move anywhere else. Uthenthawai and CU have been friends with one another for years; we should hold talks together."
The Uthenthawai campus has been earmarked for a shift to Samut Prakan's Bang Phli and Bang Pla districts.
Shortly after the rally, a group of protesters submitted a demand for Education Minister Phongthep Thepkanchana to mediate talks between CU and Uthenthawai to resolve the problem.
Mr Phongthep said he had contacted CU rector Pirom Kamolratanakul and deputy rector of Uthenthawai campus, Suebpong Muangchoo. Both sides agreed to talk, he said.
But Mr Pirom said the university would push ahead with the plan to reclaim the site.
"I think the Education Ministry will be able to play a key role in dealing with this dispute. Talks between the ministry, Chulalongkorn, and Uthenthawai will be held as soon as possible," he said shortly after the rally ended.
He insisted CU had the property ownership rights, saying the matter had been considered by the Office of the Attorney-General.
The Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary was also asked to help settle the matter several years ago, he said. The office also ruled that the plot belonged to CU.
Uthenthawai must relocate to Samut Prakan province, Mr Pirom said.

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