The Chiang Mai Student Union is a force to be reckoned with and has been since its inception back in 1978.

It has over 35,000 members and is actively involved in local politics, with a distinct voice that is listened to and considered by local and even national government and local groups.

It is quite common to see students protesting in the street to express their discontent with a particular policy or if they wish to see change. Meanwhile, the student unions in Phuket Rajabhat University (PKRU) and Prince of Songkla University (PSU) are of a much less influential and active persuasion.

The reason, at least for the staff at the Phuket-based universities, is simple enough, ?We don?t intervene in politics
because we shouldn?t tell people what to think or who to vote for. We do provide information and encourage everyone to vote though,? said Surawut Japrang, a staff member at PSU.

Phuket-based students therefore have to be content with conducting less ?controversial? activities like welcoming freshman, arranging sports days and ?helping the community.? Many of said activities also tend to be supported by the local government and various private companies who tend to have their own very distinct ideas about politics.

Although the leader of Chiang Mai Student Union, Sillawan Soloslikit (pictured), is well aware that the primary
function of the CMSU is to also assist and help, he is also aware of the other responsibility and power of the CMSU.

Khun Sillawan said, ?We provide a forum to exchange opinions, knowledge and attitudes about the political situation
in Thailand and in some extreme cases we protest against groups that might be a danger to our country.?

In fact so passionate are the students at the North-Thailand based university, that one of the main problems that the CMSU experience is a breakdown in communication based on ideological differences between members of the Union.

Members therefore try to preempt and solve such problems by holding regular meetings and seminars so that each faculty and sub-committee understand and can ultimately help each other better.

Leader of PKRU Student Union Burin Thaimichop said that although there are fewer students in PKRSU (12,989) and therefore is arguably weaker, this does not affect its capacity or ability to help.

?Our university never stops organising helpful activities. We collected food and monetary donations in both the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan and floods in the southern provinces. We do not have as many students as the other universities but in morality and goodness we are at least equal to them,?Khun Burin said.

Other university students in Phuket share a similar sentiment and are resolute about the effectiveness of their participation and of the activities they are involved in, yet express an interest in becoming more active in politics at a local level. While others are somewhat more cynical about the reasons of differences between the power of student unions.

A Phuket university student who wished to remain anonymous said, ?I think local politicians of Phuket have much more influence than other provinces. ?If we were to say something that was against what they believed, then it might get us in danger. I believe there are some students who would at times wish to protest, but only a few and this is not enough power for us to make a difference. Most of the students are scared.?