<div>21 September 2014</div>
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<div>On Thursday 18 September 2014, military and police officers went into Thammasat University's Rangsit campus to force academics and students to stop running a panel discussion, titled "Democracy Class, Lesson 2: The Downfalls of Dictatorships Abroad". Three students were arrested along with the speakers and the moderator, including Professor Dr. Nithi Eowsriwong, Dr. Chaowarit Chaosaengrat, Dr. Janjira Sombatpoonsiri, and Dr. Prajak Kongkirati.
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By Matthew Fong |
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By Students, Faculty, and Alumni of the Australian National University against the coup |
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<div>On 22 May 2014, a group of persons who call themselves the National Order Maintenance Council (NOMC) fomented a coup and seized power from the caretaker government. They cited the need to prevent violence arising from political conflict as the primary reasons for their actions. We condemn this action for the following significant reasons:</div>
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<div>1. A coup is a reduction of rights and liberties. A coup is a devaluation of the intelligence, dignity, and the political learning process of citizens in a democracy.</div>
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<div>2.
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<div><span>One day following Thailand’s 12th military coup since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932, 26 scholars of Thai Studies from outside the country, wrote a letter to General Prayuth Chan-ocha, expressing their concern at the coup launched by the National Order Maintenance Council (NOMC).
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