The Democrat Party's election office spokesman Thepthai Senpong said Thai Rak Thai must stop threatening to take legal action against university lecturers who move against the government.

They have academic freedom to express political opinions, he said.

"Their [anti-government] campaigns give credibility to their universities," he said. "The public is watching other universities that keep silent in the face of Thaksinomics."

Khon Kaen University lecturer Sampan Techaathik said it is hard for universities to coordinate a united stand against Thaksinomics, so lecturers have decided that each university, when it is ready, will begin whatever activities it can.

Two former Thai Rak Thai party-list MPs, Rocha Vipattipumiprates and Sunai Chulapongsathorn, said Chulalongkorn University lecturers who sought the backing of Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday had tarnished the university's image by dragging it into politics.

"They have the right to express political opinions in their own name, but they cannot use the university's name. I also graduated from this institution and I cherish its name," Sunai said.

He suspects Sondhi Limthongkul, a leader of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), is seeking help from universities because his support is dwindling. University lecturers who work for the PAD must not use the names of their universities to campaign against the government, Sunai said.

Assoc Prof Chaiyan Chaiyaporn, from Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Political Sciences, denied that lecturers from the university used its name in protests against the government. "We have not organised a rally in the institution's name. We only use the premises of the university," he said.

Chulalongkorn University's deputy rector, Prof Kua Wongbunsin, said the university cannot stop lecturers and students moving against the government because they are campaigning in an academic way. "If they do anything beyond their rights, then they must take responsibility for it," he said.

Activities being organised at Chulalongkorn University include a seminar entitled "Politics are for Everyone" at the Faculty of Political Sciences; a seminar at the Communication Arts Faculty entitled "The Media's Role at a Time of Political Conflict"; and a seminar at the Faculty of Medicine entitled "Others Have Woken Up. Students: Have you Woken Up?"

A coordinator of the Chulalongkorn University Network to Uphold Integrity for Democracy, Dr Anant Laolertworakul, said today's activities would provide knowledge for students and create an awareness of democracy.