Students from Bangkok's two warring colleges meet face to face after murders last week.

Some of the heat was taken out of the simmering feud between two Pathumwan district colleges yesterday when students from both sides were invited to meet in the office of deputy police commissioner General Jongrak Juthanont.

Six students from Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan (Uthen Thawai) and four students from the Pathumwan Institute of Technology showed up to shake hands and exchange flowers in a gesture of peace.

The move came after decades of bloody brawls between the two sides that seem to have culminated in two murders last week.

No eye contact

"These students come here today voluntarily because they too want reconciliation," Jongrak said.

The students, however, were unsmiling. Although both sides shook hands, no eye contact was made.

When asked whether such a ritual could end their grudges, Arom Samaknarong from Uthen Thawai bluntly replied, "I believe so".

Two shootings

Last Friday, a Uthen Thawai student was shot dead in front of passers-by outside a convenience store.

The murderer is suspected to be a Pathumwan Institute student.

Just a few days later, a Pathumwan Institute student was gunned down while riding a motorcycle back home. So far, no arrests have been made in either case.

The violence has prompted serious attention from various authorities.

"I have recommended eight measures," Police commissioner Lt-General Suchat Muankaew said. They include thorough searches of the colleges, having policemen man their exits/entrances, and installing closed-circuit cameras.

"We will also monitor the behaviour of students identified as the gang leaders," Suchat said.

Suchat added that students from different colleges should be encouraged to do activities together so that they get to know each other.

Asked whether police will send brawling students to military camps, Suchat said, "We are considering it. But we have to check first whether the move is legally possible."

In a related development, Education Minister Jurin Laksanawisit warned that institutes that failed to prevent their students from brawling could be closed. -Daily Xpress