TWO GROUPS of students yesterday interrupted chief charter writer Meechai Ruchupan’s speech to voice their opposition to the draft charter as well as to clauses that they say limit students’ right to education.

The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman responded by saying that such incidents only proved that the reform was necessary in education so people could be taught discipline and tolerance of differing opinions.

The sudden protests took place as Meechai was delivering a speech on the draft charter framework at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus. The event was held in remembrance of late prime minister and former Thammasat rector Sanya Dharmasakti.

Just as Meechai began to say how the draft charter promoted education reform by encouraging students to build a passion for learning instead of just studying for grades, a group of activists calling themselves “Education for Liberation” showed up holding a banner reading “Do Not Harm the Youth”. The student protesters said Section 54 of the draft would undermine the quality of education and called on the CDC to reconsider the clause.

The group was led by Parit “Penguin” Chivarak, a student who was among the first to say the draft charter would deprive students of their right to education by suspending free secondary-school education. Under the new charter, kindergarten will be free, but fees will have to be paid for senior secondary school.

The group was quickly removed from the forum by university staff but Meechai was interrupted again by another group of young activists calling themselves the “League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy”, who also displayed banners showing their opposition to the draft charter.

There was a brief disturbance as some participants voiced their dissatisfaction and called on the activists to respect their rights before security staff once again removed the protesters.

Meechai later said he did not mind the opposition. “We can never find peace, unless we learn to listen to those whose views differ from ours,” he said. “It is always useful to listen. One day when you grow up, you should learn from experience and understand things better.”

After the event, the CDC chief told reporters that such incidents were common at educational institutions where freedom was valued. He said the expression of opposition was acceptable if it was made in good faith, but not if it was driven by another party’s agenda.

Meechai added that he expected more protests because he had heard that political parties were mobilising forces to oppose the charter.

However, he added, the CDC had no concrete plans to defend against protests besides showing tolerance.

During his speech, Meechai said the draft charter was written in line with the compulsory framework created under Article 35 of the interim charter, which stipulates that the new charter remove corruption from politics.

He also admitted that some clauses did not match the drafters’ own thoughts and beliefs, and that many people considered measures to control governments, such as the potential lifetime ban from politics, far too strict. He said this could possibly be why politicians were campaigning against the draft charter.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he would have the incidents investigated. “They all have backers and you already know who they are. Why bother asking me?” he said at his weekly press briefing.

The premier also said society should not support students who “messed up” a forum held to mark the birthday of a former premier.

“You’re always saying students are innocent. What do you really expect me to do then,” he said. “You sympathise with violators of law. Are they really innocent? If they keep breaking the law, they will have to be punished. Our country will only be peaceful if law is enforced.”

He added it was being considered to put the disruptive students through the junta-introduced, seven-day “training camps” designed for opposition politicians.