The Student Union asked the Education Ministry yesterday to scrap its draft on the students' code of conduct, which will introduce a ban on public gatherings and put an end to "inappropriate" public displays of affection or causing a public nuisance.
Speaking at a public forum held yesterday at Thammasat University, Parit Chiwarak -- president of the Student Union, said the new rules will have a negative effect on the quality of life and education of students.
"The draft clearly infringes on individual privacy," he said.
He said the language used in the amendments carry gross ambiguity, opening the door for wide interpretation, which could be used as a political tactic to restrict students' political rights and freedom of expression.
"What if public gatherings are interpreted to include expression of political ideas? How can students express their opinions about the government and the Education Ministry?" Mr Parit said.
Mr Parit criticised the Education Ministry for not allowing any student representatives to take part in drafting the regulations and not holding any public hearings.
"We want to take part in drafting regulations which affect our freedom of expression. We demand a public hearing and we want the code of conduct to be more specific."
Mr Parit said he understood that the regulation is drafted to deal with the overly social and hedonistic lifestyle of some teenagers, "but rather than banning actions on the basis of social order and morality, the regulations should address specific acts, such as taking illicit drugs", he said.
Kittiphong Sukhonthapatipak, secretary of Thammasat University's Student Union, warned that the restrictions might be used as a means to suppress students who protest against the junta government.
"We need a guarantee that the regulation will not be twisted for political purposes. Many university students have reached the age of maturity, so we do not need the ministry's code of conduct," he said.
Earlier this month, the Student Union submitted a petition to the prime minister demanding the complete scrapping of the new regulations.
A hashtag "#studentcantsay" was created and went viral on Facebook and Twitter to protest the Education Ministry's regulations.
Members of the Student Union also posted their pictures online with a hand over their mouths to express their opposition.
Speaking at the same forum, Thipa Bhawangkanantha, a representative of the Education Ministry, insisted that the amendments are designed as a safeguard to protect children.
"The code aims to better protect students and promote acts that are appropriate," he said.
