Pheu Thai members not allowed to see detained colleagues in Bangkok

AN ATTEMPT by Pheu Thai Party politicians yesterday to meet their colleagues detained on suspicion of involvement in the production and distribution of letters allegedly “distorting the charter draft” at the Army 11th Circle in Bangkok was rejected.

The three Pheu Thai Party politicians – former Lamphun MP Rangsan Maneerat, former Lampang MP Sompoch Saithep, deputy mayor of Tambon Banthi in Lamphun, Parinya Kaowat – were escorted on Wednesday from Fort Kawila for detention at the 11th Army Circle. The three were questioned by Pol Colonel Iyarat Kamolrattana after police found evidence linking the three to letters that allegedly “distorted contents of the charter draft”, which were found in Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang. 

Pheu Thai Party caretaker leader Pol Lt-General Viroj Paoin, secretary-general Phumtham Wechayachai and other key figures were told by military officials at the 11th Army Circle that the three men could be detained for seven days.

Viroj criticised the arrest of the three as inappropriate. “The referendum has already been held, the government should relax regulations. These three did not threaten national security but only aired different views,’’ he said.

Phumtham demanded that the government immediately clarify what charges the three faced.

He said now that the referendum was over, charter draft opponents should be allowed to express their varying views.

Fourteen Pheu Thai politicians, including Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation president Boonlert Buranupakorn, are standing trial in military and civilian courts on charges of sedition, criminal organisation and for violating the referendum law after police found evidence linking them to letters “distorting charter draft content” in Lamphun, Lampang and Chiang Mai.

Pheu Thai key leader Wattana Muangsuk posted a message on his Facebook page, saying Rangsan was arrested by the junta, which exercises its power under Article 44, after he criticised the charter draft over the universal healthcare service, free education of secondary school students and welfare for seniors.

He said newspaper columnists and government supporters could freely give their comments without being intimidated and investigated but Rangsan and two others are facing charges of committing threats to national security. “They were arrested without warrants and were not granted bail and tried in the military court,” he said.

Wattan said Article 265 of the charter draft stipulated that the National Council for Peace and Order would still be able to take recourse to Article 44 to exercise absolute power. “When the draft passes the referendum, the council then cites its legitimacy to use this power to press charges against anyone without arrest warrants,’’ he said.

“The council should cancel any order that deprives people of human rights guaranteed in the charter. Trying civilians in the military court must be stopped since it is against the rule of law. Instead, the normal justice system should be used,’’ his statement said.’

NCPO spokesman Colonel Piyapong Klinpan rejected the call for the unconditional release of 14 suspects who have been detained in connection with their referendum campaigns, saying the suspects would be treated in accordance with legal procedures. 

“There has been no human rights violation and now the cases are under the justice system,’’ he said.

The Pheu Thai Party issued a statement calling for the release of “the detainees who had different views on the draft constitution, as the referendum is now completed so the ongoing procedures against these persons should also cease”.’

The party referred to 14 Pheu Thai politicians led by Boonlert.

“We know that some of those in detention are not well due to ill health. In detaining these persons, practices on human rights and humanitarian principles should be given the highest priority,’’ the statement said.