Civic groups slammed the military after the 42nd Military Circle commander sent a letter to Prince of Songkla University, asking that it "explain" to lecturers and staff not to oppose the Thepha coal-fired power project.
The letter, signed by Maj Gen Wirat Kamonsin, does not mention the names of any lecturers but a university executive's handwritten remarks on the letter note that it should be forwarded to Somporn Chuai-Aree, a science lecturer at the university, who has raised questions over the project and suggested alternative energy instead.
The letter asked the rector of the Prince of Songkla University's Hat Yai campus, Chusak Limsakul, for cooperation in ensuring an understanding among the university's lecturers and staff for the 2,200-megawatt Thepha power project and not to support to its opponents.
The letter prompted a statement from the Songkhla civic network, a key project opponent, which slammed the military's move Tuesday as being "beyond the authorities' duty" and "a threat to academic freedom".
Thitinob Komalnimi, a coordinator with Deep South Watch, said Mr Somporn worked on academic information, and observed public participation in the project, which involves the construction area in the Thepha coastal district, and also "assumed a mediator's role" for talks between local villagers and the project operator, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat).
"If Mr Somporn has some misunderstanding about the project, Egat should clarify it, not bring in military power to pressure him to end his role," she said.
The university will hold a meeting Wednesday in line with the military's request to calm dissenting views against the controversial coal-fired power plant project.
Mr Somporn is a lecturer in science at the university. (Photo via FB/csomporn)
Mr Somporn said Tuesday that he was summoned to the meeting and was one of the university lecturers who joined the Egat-sponsored trip to Japan to visit coal-fired power plants. However, he had previously-arranged appointments so he would not be attending the meeting.
"I feel both the military and the university should play a constructive role in coordinating or facilitating meaningful discussions so that villagers can express their views and learn about the impacts of the coal project," said Mr Somporn.
He lamented that such forums, which he and many others attended in Japan, have yet to take place in Songkhla.
"They took us to two coal projects in Japan and we could see responsible parties could inform and assure residents on the operations and measures addressing the impacts. In Thailand, it's one-way talk and no discussions," said Mr Somporn.
Anuchart Palakawongse Na Ayudhya, Egat's Project Environment Division director, insisted that Egat had nothing to do with the military's letter.
To his understanding, he said, the military did not want to put pressure on the university and those who disagree with the project. They probably saw that the dispute over the power plant issue is escalating and they did not want it to intensify further, which could harm national security, particularly in the southern region.
He said the letter pointed to the military wanting to ease dissent.
Mr Somporn posted this apparent scan of the letter on his Facebook page.