Mathayom five and six students numbering around 200, joined an activity in front of a school building to show solidarity with the student movement in protest of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha and his cabinet.
200 students stood in rows, hands raised with the signature three finger salute white chanting “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy”.
Rousing songs were sung, white ribbons tied on hands, bags and heads and fellow students stood on balconies and hung out of windows showing the three finger salute in solidarity. The activity took 20 minutes and when ended, the students headed back into their classrooms.
Thitinat Sakthananont, director of the school, along with five members of the school management, oversaw the event and gave their full support to all of the students, receiving rallying cries of appreciation, clapping of hands and wais from the students who were heard to shout, “Thank you director”..
Thitinat said after that the students had come to him before the event to ask permission to organise the activity and in accordance with the ministry of education’s policy and guidance, he was happy to open up the school space for them to engage in a democratic activity which did not violate anyone’s rights, was not subject to any influence but their own minds and did not insult the monarcy.
“I personally believe that this is a basis foundation for these children to gain experience, learn and express themselves peacefully.”