Thread: Thai university warns foreign students they could lose visas over protests

(Reuters) - A Thai university has warned foreign students to steer clear of political rallies or face revocation of their visas and immigration blacklisting amid anti-government protests and local demonstrations against a coup in Myanmar.

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in an email memo to students said it respected freedom of expression but was conveying a request from Thai immigration for foreign students not to join protests.


“All of us must be respectful of the laws and policies of the host country Thailand,” it said in an email seen by Reuters on Tuesday.


“We strongly urge members of the AIT community to take heed of the message issued by the government of Thailand.”


Thailand has seen demonstrations in recent weeks denouncing last month’s military coup in Myanmar and a deadly crackdown by security forces on protesters. Myanmar has a large community in Thailand.


Rallies have taken place outside the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok and the regional headquarters of the United Nations, urging the body to take action.


The memo did not specifically mention demonstrations about Myanmar, but said the request covers protests in “Bangkok, United Nations, embassies”.


Thailand has also seen a resumption recently of youth-led protests against its government.


Thailand has called for restraint and dialogue in Myanmar, but has stopped short of criticising the military for seizing power.


Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said no order had been issued by the immigration bureau, as did foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat, who said the issue could be a “miscommunication”.


Police Colonel Charoenpong Khantilo, chief of the immigration office in Pathum Thani, where the university is located, said no threat had been made to revoke visas and blacklist foreign students.


“We are concerned about their safety and worried that they will get involved in wrongdoing from participating in protests,” Charoenpong told Reuters, adding that a emergency decree was in force that prohibits mass gatherings.


“We never wanted to limit the students’ freedom of expression,” he said.


Thai university warns foreign students they could lose visas over protests | Reuters

Barrow says he has been reliably informed that immigration deny all knowledge of it, and if that's the case it's either a fake or the uni are trying to pull a fast one.

Which laws allow revocation of visa for political protest?

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Which laws allow revocation of visa for political protest?

Immigration Act, BE2522.

Fair enough then. And silly me for not checking.

Same here in PI. I don't know the exact law, but if you're a student, foreign spouse, expat, etc - don't say anything publicly against the govt. Keep your mouth shut. Else it's bye bye, PI.

There was a 72 year old Australian nun who got deported in 2018 because she was against human rights abuses & the rights of the little people.

Australian nun Patricia Fox loses Philippines deportation as visa confiscated - ABC News

I'm not saying it's right (the human rights abuses or the deportation), but it's just how it is. You keep your mouth shut if you want to stay or survive.

Just this Sunday, the mayor of Calbayog town in Samar island got ambushed after attending his son' s bday party. The driver & mayor both died. It was a big issue in the news last night. Two mayors near my hometown have been killed in recent months...

NBI steps in to probe Calbayog mayor's slay after police linked to ambush

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

Barrow says

he has got a lot of things wrong in the past, he is not a reliable bringer of news

contracts for jobs in another country other than your own will likely have a clause stating that involvement in the politics of the country can result in dismissal

Originally Posted by lom

he has got a lot of things wrong in the past, he is not a reliable bringer of news

Foreign students not barred from political gatherings, says Immigration

Foreign students not barred from political gatherings, says Immigration