Pheu Thai pair could face criminal charges: Prayut
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PEOPLE summoned by the National Council for Peace and Order for further "attitude adjustment" could face criminal charges under normal laws for creating a political disturbance, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha has said.
The warning came as Prayut’s No-2, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, said former energy minister Pichai Naripthapan and former Pheu Thai MP Karun Hosakul – both currently detained – were not being tortured but being well cared for.
Prayut, the National Council for Peace and Order chief, said Pichai had been summoned for the seventh time and there were limits to forgiveness.
He said he may not forgive him this time – and the same applied to Karun.
Asked if there were more people who might face the same situation, Prayut said it was common knowledge that there were other people still sowing division in society.
“Those involved in causing damage [to the country] in the past should not say anything. They should support the government in tackling various problems,” he said.
“We’re still have a hitch in the democratic process. I am working for you today, so why should you reprimand me? How could you despise me?
“I’ve been [in power] for nearly two years now and today we should look at how people are doing and see what their needs are. I look at everything and care for everyone.
“Today I plead: Do not oppose or make a commotion with me too much. I am doing everything for you.”
Prayut defended the NCPO’s use of military officers to |detain people at undisclosed locations without charge, saying police would handle them after seven days in military detention if they were charged.
The possible charges against Pichai and Karun were solid, Prayut added.
“I would like to ask for fairness from the concerned officers [over handling the Pichai and Karun cases] and think about what contributions [they] have made [to society],” he said
Prawit said the duo would be released sooner rather than later provided they can understand what is expected of them behaviour-wise, adding that the NCPO was not becoming more strict.
He asked for people to stop criticising the government and the NCPO as the country was in a transitional period and the current administration was not elected.
Asked if there it is likely that more people would be summoned in the days ahead, Prawit said anyone who baselessly spoke ill of the authorities and spread false information would be “invited” to talk with the military.
Prawit added that those summoned for attitude adjustment were being lodged in a home-like environment and were not being tortured.
“Do not worry. I insist. We have done a lot [of summoning] in the past. So why should you worry now?” Prawit said. “I have done it over the past year. I ask that the time now be the time of the NCPO.”
He added that the administration was trying to make things as democratic as possible.
In a related development, former Pheu Thai MP Worachai Hema said the latest wave of summoning and detention was aimed at stopping a tide of criticism and to shore-up international confidence in the aftermath of the junta-sponsored draft charter’s rejection by the National Reform Council.
Worachai said there was a need for the administration to get feedback and criticism should be permitted.
