Varsities face class suspensions

       The Education Ministry is looking at suspending classes at two Bangkok technology universities in a bid to end clashes between students.
       The ministry yesterday said it also might discipline the university heads or, as a last resort, close the universities in response to the latest strife.
       Students from Rajamangala University of Technology's Uthen Thawai campus came under gun attack on a public bus on Wednesday night. One student was seriously injured and the bus driver and three passengers wounded.
       The attackers were believed to be students from the Pathumwan Institute of Technology, as students from the two schools have a long history of rivalry.
       Witnesses told police a group of teenagers tried to get on to the air-conditioned bus No.113 stopped in front of Supachalasai National Stadium, but the driver closed the door and drove away. Moments later, six gun shots rang out.
       Five people including the bus driver and the Uthen Thawai student were wounded. The student was taken to Hua Chiew Hospital with chest wounds.
       Pol Col Phaisarn Lue-somboon, head of the Pathumwan police station, said the driver told police eight Uthen Thawai students were on board.
       They asked him to take them to the Pathumwan police station as they feared being attacked by a group of about 30 Pathumwan Institute students outside.
       Police are checking surveillance cameras in their search for the attackers, he said.
       Deputy Education Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat yesterday said the heads of the two universities had been told they would be held responsible for further violence between their students.
       "If the problems cannot be solved,we may have to consider closing the universities," he said.
       San Vora-in, deputy secretary-general of the Higher Education Commission,said the two institutes had promised to bring the situation under control.
       Ordering the suspension of classes was another option, but not ideal as the students were in the middle of exams.
       But if the situation gets out of hand,classes would be ordered suspended for the sake of student safety, Mr San said.
       On Tuesday night, a man wearing a safety helmet fired a gun into the Uthen Thawai campus. No one was hurt.
       About 2am the following day, a man on a motorcycle fired at a group of Pathumwan students in front of their school. One bullet hit a student who had just returned from a party, he said.His condition is now safe.