Watana freed on bail, barred from political activity

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday had sought the military court’s permission to extend Watana’s detention for his alleged violation of an NCPO order. 

The politician denied the allegation, saying he had just expressed his opinion on a social network and had not violated any agreement with the NCPO, according to his lawyer Narinpong Jinapak.

Watana is accused of breaking an agreement with the NCPO that he would not carry out political activities, which he had signed for his previous release from detention. 

The politician has been detained four times, including the most recent detention, which was justified because he had violated the NCPO Announcement Number 39/2557, according to an NCPO source. 

The politician has been on a partial hunger strike since being detained on Monday, consuming only coconuts and juice.

He appeared at the Bangkok Military Court yesterday after previously being held at the 9th Infantry Division Headquarters in Kanchanaburi province, to acknowledge the charges against him at the 11th Army Circle in Bangkok. 

Previously Watana’s lawyer had said authorities planned to release him next Monday, but authorities appeared to have changed their minds and brought the accused politician to court.

On arrival at the court, Watana was seen wearing the same grey T-shirt he had worn when he was detained. He was escorted by authorities and did not speak to the press.

His lawyer, Narinpong said earlier he would ask the court to release Watana on Bt50,000 bail.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the court could decide whether to grant him a temporary release.

He added that the military would not be involved because the case was being tried within the judicial system.

But he added: “If Watana stages a new move and the court revokes his bail, he has to go to jail.”

Prawit said officials had taken action against Watana because his actions violated NCPO order and he had already signed an agreement to accept the consequences for the violation. 

“We take action not because we want to ‘kill a chicken to scare the monkeys’. It is an action against an individual. There is no need to for him to undergo the NCPO course for ‘Constructive Country Leaders’,’’ he said, referring to a “training” course drawn up for political opponents.

Prawit also downplayed Watana’s hunger strike. “We do not feel any pressure if he does not eat rice meals. What can we do? May he likes to eat coconut,’’ he said.

Prawit dismissed a call from Amnesty International for an unconditional release of Watana, saying it was Thailand’s internal affair and the government did not violate human rights. “If we let people like this make moves, the country cannot move forward. The public will be affected, not the NCPO,’’ he said.

NCPO public relations deputy chief Colonel Piyapong Klinpan said the government had acted fairly by adopting an approach that included both soft and hard measures. 

“We mainly negotiated with him. We followed legal steps. Although Watana’s actions seem to be well planned and supporters back his moves, we solve problems diplomatically to prevent ill feelings among Thai people. We are being careful about exercising power,’’ he said.

He said the government is investigating the parties behind Watana’s actions and who financed him.

Meanwhile, Watana’s daughter Weerada Muangsook recently flew to Hong Kong with her mother for undisclosed reasons, according to Watana’s lawyer Narinpong. 

Weerada has filed complaints with both the US Embassy and the EU offices in Bangkok, calling for her father’s release. But Narinpong added that Weerada had no hidden agenda and that she and her mother had made previous plans to travel abroad.

The lawyer also emphasised that Weerada was not supported by any particular group, adding that she had nothing to do with the anti-junta activist group Resistant Citizen.

Resistant Citizen, which has called for the release of Wattana, yesterday announced the cancellation of a symbolic protest at BTS Chong Nonsi station.

However, key member Sirawith Seritiwat said the group would continue to protest against any action by the junta that was viewed as infringing on human rights.

Meanwhile, Democrat Party deputy leader Nipit Intarasombat said Watana’s tactic of applying pressure via the international community was effective because foreign diplomats and Amnesty International have responded to petitions made by Weerada.

“The anti-government group thinks they can spark the world community’s interest by what they did. Students may start hunger strikes and the problem will snowball,’’ Nipit said.

He added that anti-government forces had also picked the right time to stage a movement, as the country nears a public referendum.

“By international standards, the public should be allowed to express opinions if they agree or disagree. I have warned the government that it must make clear what can be done and what cannot be done. It is still debatable if wearing T-shirts with the message ‘Vote No’ is okay,’’ he said.