Thailand tells universities to stop students' calls for monarchy reform

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai authorities have summoned the heads of universities to tell them to stop students demanding reform of the monarchy, warning that such calls could lead to violence, a member of the military-appointed Senate said on Sunday.

Thailand has faced near daily protests since mid-July calling for the departure of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former junta leader, and for a new constitution and elections.

Some groups have also listed 10 demands to curb the powers of King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s Royal Palace, breaking a long-standing taboo in the Southeast Asian country.

Senator Somchai Sawangkarn told Reuters that letters had been sent by state-appointed provincial governors to university heads, summoning them to meetings ahead of protests planned on Sept. 19 in Bangkok and elsewhere.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-protests-exclusive/exclusive-thailand-tells-universities-to-stop-students-calls-for-monarchy-reform-idUSKBN2640BE