Thammasat students lay wreaths in protest

BANGKOK, February 5 (TNA) - A group of Thammasat University students and people Sunday laid wreaths at the university in protest against its administrators forbidding the using of the university for activities concerning a bid to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code which involves the monarchy institution in the country. Led by two university students, including Panithan Prueksakasemsuk, a son of red Shirt leader Somyos Prueksakasemsuk, protesting students and people supporting the bid to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code laid wreaths at the statue of Pridi Banomyong, ex-prime minister and founder of Thammasat University, at the university. Somyos is a core leader of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and is now facing lese majeste charges. Protesters condemned the university administrators’ order issued earlier which forbid the use of university compound for activities concerning an attempt to amend the article, spearheaded by a group of lecturers there. They read a statement demanding the administrators to invite lecturers supporting the amendment and the general public for talks whether Article 112 should be maintained or amended. Also, Panithan, a second year student of Faculty of Law, said he would travel to the Criminal Court next Saturday and hold a hunger strike demanding that his father should be granted bail for release from prison. (TNA)