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Published on August 30, 2007

However, the National Legislative Assembly proceeded to pass the bill for King Mongkut's Institute of Technology North Bangkok. The vote, 114 to 1 in favour, gives the institute autonomy.

The protesters from the Students' Federation of Thailand and the institute gathered outside Parliament to demand that assembly speaker Meechai Ruchuphan send the bill for a public hearing.

Federation spokesman Patta-ranai Jongkeu said protesters were against the autonomy bill for all institutions because academic evidence showed it would double tuition fees and teaching staff and personnel would focus on making money rather than developing Thai education.

They also wanted the government to stop considering any education bills that went against the principle of the government providing basic education to all citizens, he added.

The protesters, calling for a meeting with Meechai, blocked the U-Thong intersection for half an hour, causing traffic congestion ahead of evening rush hour. Dusit police decided to break up the protest by force, causing a student to sustain a cut on his right arm.

The injured Ramkhamhaeng University student, Phrom-pakorn Khampaen, said Dusit police superintendent Col Chalothorn Srithawatcharapong pulled him by the neck.

After NLA deputy secretary Wutthichai Watchareerat received the students' request to meet Meechai, the protest eventually fizzled out.

The Nation