The purposeful rebel Netiwit annoys 'adults'
Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal (Photo: Wikipedia)
Below is a recent opinion piece by Wasant Techawongtham in the Bangkok Post about the rebellious Netiwit, a student at Chulalongkorn University. I have already written about Netiwit a number of times, see the references at the bottom of this article.
Wasant's opinion piece
When I read a while back that Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal—a young political activist—went to Chulalongkorn University, it seemed unthinkable to me. What went through my mind was, “What? Netiwit goes to Chula? Hot oil and water don't mix. That is not going to end well.”
To those unfamiliar with the name, Netiwit – nicknamed “Nehneh” as he is affectionately called by his friends – comes across as a dull, studious-looking man who wears colorfully framed glasses. The son of small shopkeepers in Samut Prakan, he has the ability to say or do things that often make right-wingers foam at the mouth. What they probably find so frustrating about him is that he speaks softly and rationally without getting emotional, but hits their own beliefs very hard.
Chula, as the university is also known, is known as an ultra-conservative institution where people in high society often wish their sons and daughters to enroll there. It prides itself on being the very first university in Thailand, founded (in 1917) under the auspices of King Rama VI.
Mr. Netiwit made a name for himself at a young age. As a high school student, he actively campaigned for better education and democratic reform. Superfluous hair and dress codes are among the problems that have come under his sharp criticism. They are superfluous and not conducive to education, he says.
What irritates the ultra-conservatives is his criticism of the requirement that students honor the flag every morning and his determined conscientious objection to conscription. But it turns out that while college administrators seem stuck in the past, a large portion of the student body has decided to move forward and take on a more progressive outlook.
To the dismay of the university authorities, Mr. Netiwit, still in his first year, was elected president by the Student Council. Sure enough, a few months later, he and seven other students walked out of the ceremony that pays homage to the statues of Rama V and Rama VI, while other students lay on the ground in the rain, prostrating and watching. For this act of defiance, the university removed 25 conduct points from his transcript through the student affairs department, which resulted in Mr. Netiwit losing his position as chairman. He and his friends fought back and filed a complaint with the Administrative Court, which later found the sentence unjustified and ordered the university to reinstate him.
In 2020 he became president of the student union for the Faculty of Political Science. Near the end of his one-year term, he applied as a candidate for Student Council President (SGCU), winning a landslide victory over 70% of the more than 14.000 students who voted.
Photo: Wikipedia
During this period, he initiated multiple projects to commemorate various alumni who were victims of past political events, including the massacre of students on October 6, 1976 at Thammasat University. Most notably, he started an action to restore the name of Jit Phumisak, an acclaimed intellectual, writer, poet, linguist, political activist in the XNUMXs and a Chula alumnus, who, like Mr. Netiwit, was a rebel in his time.
Mr. Netiwit also strongly criticizes the university for the commercial exploitation of its properties, and questions whether its business-oriented activities do not override its mission of education. He caused a stir in October last year when the Student Council (SGCU), of which he chaired, decided to remove the symbol of Chula University, the Phra Kieo (note 1), during the traditional football match with Thammasat University.
His activities are closely monitored by the more conservative elements within the university, particularly those of the Student Affairs Department. That is why this department got the chance to get back at him, following the introduction days for first-year students organized by the Student Council. That activity featured three controversial figures — teacher-in-exile Pavin Chachavalpongpun, Ratsadon protest leaders Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, and Panusaya “Rung” Sitthijirawattanakul — who appeared as guest speakers in video clips. All three have been charged with lèse majesté. It was alleged that the speeches contained foul language and coarse gestures that are inconsistent with Thai culture and tradition. The activity also did not have the prior approval of the university authorities. For this infraction, Mr. Netiwit, as President of the Student Council - and also a deputy - was penalized with a deduction of 10 disciplinary points, enough to cause Mr. Netiwit to lose his presidency. Despite the rules and regulations, the administration's action was quite transparent in its vindictiveness.
Prostrating (MR. MAHA SOMSAK / Shutterstock.com)
To the ultra-conservatives inside and outside the university, Mr. Netiwit is a troublemaker and a troublemaker. There is no point in arguing about the merits of his ideas or actions. It is best that he is prevented from doing or saying anything in public or else he will cause irreparable damage to society. But here their mistakes come to the fore. It is the same mentality that the military-controlled government uses to deal with the opposition. Anything that troubles the opposition is a good thing, no matter how dirty or illegal.
Mr. Netiwit may be a rebel, but he is a rebel with a good cause. He and his friends want to see the reformation of the archaic educational, social and political systems, which - if one considers them honestly - are in dire need of an overhaul. His actions and words are offensive only because the "adults" remain stuck in the past with its cherished culture, customs and traditions, refusing to recognize that some aspects of the past are no longer relevant in modern times.
Instead, these "adults" act like bullies against those who don't subscribe to some established values. They talk about democracy, but act authoritarian.
Fear of change controls their behavior. The more people cry out for change, the more suspicious they become. And that is really cause for concern.
***
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2274263/rebel-with-a-cause-netiwit-riles-adults
See also: https://www.thaienquirer.com/38252/a-coup-on-campus-ouster-of-student-government-leader-shows-conservatism-still-rules-thai-campuses/
Note 1:
The Phra Kiao (พระเกี้ยว, Phrá Kîejew), symbol of Chulalongkorn University:
Photo: Wikipedia
Earlier on Thailand blog about Netiwit:
An introduction: https://www.thailandblog.nl/onderwijs/netiwit-lastpak-bevlogen-leerling/
About the prostrations long ago abolished: throwing oneself on the ground in salute: https://www.thailandblog.nl/achtergrond/afschaffing-prostreren-koning-chulalongkorn-en-rol-netiwi/
On his refusal of service: https://www.thailandblog.nl/achtergrond/geen-soldaat-zijn/
About this blogger
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Born in 1944 in Delfzijl as the son of a simple shopkeeper. Studied in Groningen and Curacao. Worked as a doctor in Tanzania for three years, then as a general practitioner in Vlaardingen. A few years before my retirement I married a Thai lady, we had a son who speaks three languages well.
Lived in Thailand for almost 20 years, first in Chiang Kham (Phayao province) then in Chiang Mai where I liked to bother all kinds of Thai with all kinds of questions. Followed Thai extracurricular education after which a diploma of primary school and three years of secondary school. Did a lot of volunteer work. Interested in the Thai language, history and culture. Have been living in the Netherlands for 5 years now together with my son and often with his Thai girlfriend.
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Maybe a small addition.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha also interfered with this election and Netiwit's views. Speaking at Mahidol University, he called Netiwit's election "a disgrace." He said: Students should know how to think and live together. Showing no respect for teachers and the flag is nonsense. Extreme thoughts are no good… It's a pity and I worry that the university's reputation will be damaged. It's a disgrace to the university. People who are not happy with Thailand should move elsewhere. We are proud of our beautiful history and want to preserve it.'
In 2017, two people on a scooter were spotted looking for Netiwit in an aggressive manner and using threatening language. Netiwit filed a complaint with the police. He said, 'Of course I'm scared but I'll go on with my work'.
Good article, thanks.
I had read some things about him before and can only hope that he continues with his actions.
Thanks for this explanation. It will be a long time before the elite and the uniforms become accessible to fresh air.
Have a look at that 'prostration'. That is not a Dutch word. It will mean 'to prostrate oneself, prostrate oneself, kneel in the dust, prostrate oneself'. But there are certain words you will never get out…
How do you prostrate in prayer?
https://hetvizier.com/hoe-prostreren-jullie-in-het-gebed/
Quote:
The importance of the prostrations, from Theoliptus' point of view, is much more spiritual than physical. By bending our knees we adopt an attitude of humility before the God to whom we direct our prayer. By kneeling and then pressing our forehead to the ground, we acknowledge our sinfulness; we create a living image of our fall into sin. Our attitude itself is a confession of that condition, a reminder of our spiritual poverty, of our susceptibility to the passions of greed, lust, anger, and malice. As we descend in body and spirit, we also confess the Name above every name, the Name that "upholds the universe," as the Shepherd of Hermas puts it, and which also upholds our personal world: "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
In Thailand they don't do this for a god, but for the king, or an image of him, for teachers and a few other important figures.
“A few other important figures”?
Like for the Buddha for example.
Kneel on the floor, hands folded in front of your head and bow to the floor. 3x.
Don't forget to let your right hand support first.
That's how I learned it from a Thai.
I always did that in a temple. I experienced it more as a greeting. Bow three times indeed: to the Buddha, to his Teachings, and to monasticism, the Sangha. The Thai text is:
กราบ พระ พุทธ พระ ธรรม ธรรม พระสงฆ์ kraab (low tone, bending, honor) phraphoet (two high tones, the Buddha) Phratham Phrasong (high tone, middle tone, monkendom).
Oh, and also this. No one forces you to bow 3 times in a temple. Occasionally I saw Thais who didn't do it either. Nobody says anything about that. But for those other High Persons…