Uthen Thawai Students Declare End to Rivalry, Seek Police Mediation
Over 300 Uthen Thawai technical college students marched to the Royal Thai Police headquarters on October 21 to formally declare an end to their violent rivalry with Pathumwan Institute of Technology and request police mediation. Student representative Wiwat Yatkham pledged non-violence, called for dialogue and an MOU, and raised separate concerns about a proposed campus relocation. The move aims to shift a decades-old feud toward peaceful resolution through negotiation rather than retaliation.
Uthen Thawai students announced the end of their long-standing conflict with Pathumwan Institute of Technology and asked the Royal Thai Police to act as mediator. On October 21, 2026, at the Royal Thai Police Office, more than 300 students from the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Uthen Thawai campus, traveled to submit a letter requesting the police serve as a neutral party to coordinate cooperation and end the long-running dispute between Uthen Thawai students and Pathumwan Institute of Technology students.
They proposed opening a dialogue stage between the two institutions, drafting a memorandum of understanding (MOU), and promoting relationship-building activities to foster lasting understanding and friendship, upholding the idea that "past conflicts should not be a legacy for the new generation" to build sustainable peace.
Third-year engineering student Wiwat Yatkham, representing Uthen Thawai students, stated their position on the conflict and violence between the institutions. He clearly declared readiness to end violence and vowed not to initiate further violent acts. He acknowledged that the incidents affected not only students of both institutions but also caused anxiety for the public and uninvolved people who should not suffer from the dispute.
Wiwat emphasized that this stance does not aim to judge right or wrong or blame either institution, but to communicate that Uthen Thawai students are ready to stop violence and prevent recurrence. He views dialogue and negotiation as the proper solution rather than retaliatory violence, because the impact extends beyond direct participants to ordinary citizens living amid fear and insecurity.
Wiwat also raised the issue of campus relocation, another concern for students. He questioned the necessity of moving from the Uthen Thawai area, noting the campus has long-standing readiness in teaching, educational personnel, and vocational training foundations. He wants to know why students must move to another area.
He said the relocation issue remains unclear and students want relevant agencies to explain clearly, as students are directly affected by any changes in education, living conditions, and opportunities. He stressed that this statement does not link violence as a bargaining chip for the relocation issue, believing both matters should be considered separately.
Regarding coordination progress, Wiwat said preliminary talks have been arranged and they are ready to bring various issues to the negotiation table, seeing open exchange of opinions as a good approach that may help resolve accumulated problems.
Some details still await further discussion and clarity from involved parties, especially solutions and care for affected students. Tomorrow there will be further...
