Over 1,000 academics sign petition calling on Thai PM Prayut to resign
As many as 1,118 academics have signed the Thai Academic Network for Civil Rights’ petition demanding that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha step down.
A group of academics and students led by Thammasat anthropology lecturer Anusorn Unno and Rangsit University’s political science lecturer Thamrongsak Petchlertanan marched to Government House on Tuesday to deliver the letter.
The letter decries the Oct 16 crackdown on protesters and the government’s moves to silence critics.
Anusorn said the water cannons directed at the protesters caused injuries and only resulted in further angering the public.
Hence, he said, the network wants the government to stop using violence against unarmed protesters, cancel laws that silence critics or violate people’s right to freedom of speech and accept the protest movement’s demands.
The protesters are calling for the resignation of the prime minister, the Constitution to be rewritten so it is more democratic and for the monarchy to be reformed.
