THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Watana defiant after release from detention

Watana defiant after release from detention

PHEU THAI Party politician Watana Muangsook vowed to continue criticising the government after his release yesterday from being detained on Monday for the junta’s latest “attitude adjustment” session.

Watana, a former MP, told The Nation that he had been forced to sign a document upon his release stating that he had not been physically assaulted and his belongings had not been confiscated during his detention at the 11th Army Circle.
A military officer also told him to make comments on the new charter draft only “in an academic way”, according to Watana. But the politician responded that he would continue commenting as he liked, describing his views as “always neutral”.
During the 73 hours of detention, Watana said, he was held incommunicado in a room at the military camp but received decent care from military officers. 
The military summoned Watana on Sunday after visiting his residence and finding he was not there. He reported himself to the military on the following day.
The summons came after Watana criticised on his Facebook page the junta’s recent detention of another former Pheu Thai MP, Worachai Hema, saying the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) tried to outlaw ordinary actions only because it was distrusted. 
On Monday, NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said Watana had been summoned for posting online comments intended to degrade the junta’s image. He added that Watana also appeared not to have cooperated with the NCPO and had attempted to confuse society.
Watana, who previously served as minister of social development and human security, industry and commerce, has been summoned several times since the NCPO came to power in the 2014 coup. Earlier last month, he was detained after criticising the government. He is also facing prosecution for online comments about the junta that allegedly violated the 2007 Computer Crime Act.
In a related development, Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said a planned “training course” on attitude adjustment would create a better understanding among politicians who have repeatedly been summoned by the junta. 
Prawit added that the course was expected to help bring about reconciliation.
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