Chulalongkorn students want honorary degree for exiled cop who hunted human traffickers

Students at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities said this morning that the honorary degree they are seeking for a cop driven into exile for investigating human trafficking is only the beginning.

The Student Union of Chulalongkorn University asked yesterday that an honorary doctoral degree be conferred to Maj. Gen. Paveen Pongsirin, who fled the country in fear of his life after leading an investigation into the trafficking of Rohingya. Today, student body president Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal said Chulalongkorn should be just the first institution to recognize the former police officer for his exceptional contributions. 

“The university has given the honorary titles to billionaires of Charoen Pokphand Group and Chang beer, so it should do the same for [Paveen], an upright cop with a backbone who fought for justice and human rights,” Netiwit said.