Nitirat
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The Nitirat Group (Thai: นิติราษฎร์) was a progressive group of Thammasat University law faculty formed in March 2011, led by Worachet Pakeerut and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul.[1] The group aimed to amend Section 112 of Thai Criminal Code (Thailand's lèse-majesté law) and nullify the legal impacts of the 2006 Thai coup d'état.[2]
2012 Thammasat University ban
On 30 January 2012, Thammasat University banned the use of its facilities to campaign against the lèse-majesté law, effectively banning the Nitirat Group's activities on campus.[3][4] Thammasat University rector Somkit Lertpaithoon defended the ban, believing continued activities would lead to conflict and chaos.[5] The ban led to protests by students and criticism from former rector Charnvit Kasetsiri, who argued the ban ran contrary to the founder's vision for Thammasat.[5]
2012 assault on Worachet Pakeerut
On 29 February 2012, Nitirat Group co-founder Worachet Pakeerut was assaulted at Thammasat University's Tha Phra Chan campus by twin brothers from Pathum Thani.[6] The brothers admitted to intentionally attacking him due to their opposition to the group's efforts to change the lèse-majesté law.[7]
Later activities
Piyabutr Saenkanokkul was an assistant professor of law at Thammasat University and member of the Nitirat Group.[8][9] He later become a co-founder of the Future Forward Party, a progressive political party led by tycoon Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.[10][11][12]
By 2020, the group had become non-operative.[13]