Name Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal | ||
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Netiwit chotiphatphaisal conscientious objector or rebel
Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal (thai:เนติวิทย์ โชติภัทร์ไพศาล) (Born: 10 September 1996) is a student activist, librarian, conscientious objector, publisher, author and a founder of TERA (Thailand Educational Revolution Alliance) and 'Education for Liberation of Siam' Both groups aim to reform the Thai education system.
Contents
- Netiwit chotiphatphaisal conscientious objector or rebel
- Early life
- TERA
- Education for Liberation of Siam
- Conscientious Objector
- Activism at Chulalonkorn University
- Removal from Student Council
- References
Netiwit is currently studying at Chulalongkorn University, majoring in political science. He is also the elected student council president at Chulalongkorn University and a librarian at the Santi Pracha Dhamma Library.
Early life
Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal was born September 10th, 1996 in Bangkok, Thailand. He is the second child of a middle class family of shopkeepers, growing up in Samut Prakan Province.
TERA
In 2012, Netiwit and a group of fellow students formed TERA (Thailand Education Revolution Alliance). A student led organization, TERA aimed to pressure education authorities to reform the Thai education system. This includes the abolition of the strict uniform codes, increasing the quality of teachers and the curriculum, reduce rote style education and increase the number of public schools. Netiwit gained public recognition after appearing on a television program to speak about the organization and its cause.
Education for Liberation of Siam
Education for Liberation of Siam was formed in December 2013 by Netiwit and other student activists with Netiwit serving as the first secretary of the organization. The purpose of the group is to provide a platform for student activism as well as disseminating questionable actions and misconduct by authority figures in the Thai education system. In 2014, under the secretary general Nattanan Warintarawet, the organization gained prominence for protesting against educational reforms put in place by the Junta.
Conscientious Objector
At 18 Netiwit declared himself a conscientious objector
Activism at Chulalonkorn University
In July of 2016, Netiwit and a friend caused a controversy by refusing prostrate before the statue of King Rama V at an annual Chulalongkorn University event, citing that King Rama V himself abolished the act. He received both praise and criticism from the act, notably the ire of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, leader of the junta. Netiwit has also spoken out against hazing in a common thai initiation tradition known as 'rub nong'. In 2016, Netiwit personally invited activist Joshua Wong to speak at an event commemorating the 1976 Thammasat University Massacre, Wong was detained for 12 hours upon entering Thailand but managed to speak to attendees via skype after being deported. In may 2017, Netiwit was elected as Student Council President at Chulalongkorn University.
Removal from Student Council
In august 3rd, 2017, Netiwit and seven other student council members walked out of an oath giving ceremony requiring them to prostate in front of a statue of King Rama VI in symbolic protest. As a result one of the members was assaulted by a professor, Reungwit Bunjongrat, and the protesting members had their 'behavioural scores' cut by the university as punishment. Subsequently this lead to the members, including Netiwit, to be removed from their position on the student council. Netiwit has since received support from academics and activists internationally, including Noble Prize laureate, Roald Hoffman, scholar and political activist, Noam Chomsky and Harvard psychologist, Steven Pinker