Outspoken academic at Chiang Mai University, Tanet Charoenmuang, now retired, wrote a paper called, “Shouting The Creation and Inheritance of Dictatorship in University,” outlining how SOTUS impinges on human rights and freedom, stating that students conditioned in the
hazing system, “in my mind, are victims of a dictatorship system.” This was before Thailand had a real, unambiguous dictator.
Let us compare some of the above commandments at Maejo University to some of Prayuth‟s 12 Core Values, which students are asked to recite each morning at school.
1) Upholding the nation, the religions and the Monarchy, which is the key institution: (Respect Maejo law as the law of the kingdom itself).
2) Beinggratefultotheparents,guardiansandteachers:(Dotherightthing.Do what the seniors tell you).
3) Maintaining discipline, respectful of laws and the elderly and seniority: (Finish your sentence with „sir‟ or „ma‟am‟ every time when you address an upperclassmen).
4) Putting the public and national interest before personal interest: (Upon hearing Mae Jo‟s anthem you must stand to attention, heads down and
salute).
Because SOTUS is consanguineous with a hierarchical, dictatorial system, it is absolutely undemocratic. SOTUS is not anomalous, confined to bad boys and girls within the grounds of academia; SOTUS is ingrained in Thai culture, dare I say, it‟s Thainess, or at least one of the more negative aspects of the nebulous umbrella term that is very reductively supposed to define all Thais. Getting rid of SOTUS is a good idea, but it‟s not ideal, because what brought it into being is bigger than what happens on campus.