Security forces yesterday arrested 14 members of an anti-coup student group on charges of instigating unrest and defying a National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ban on political gatherings.
One of 14 members of an anti-coup group raises a fist in defiance after being arrested by a joint force of police and soldiers yesterday on charges of defying the military regime’s ban on political gatherings and instigating unrest. Patipat Janthong
About 50 police and soldiers apprehended the students at the Sathirakoses-Nagapradipa Foundation in Bangkok's Khlong San district after the Bangkok Military Court yesterday approved the arrest warrant request submitted by Samran Rat police.
The students were taken in a lorry to Phra Ratchawang Police Station, which was cordoned off to prevent any protesters from entering the building.
The students call themselves the "New Democracy Movement Group".
Krissadang Nutcharas, the students' lawyer, said the police treated the students well.
Once the police finish their questioning, they will send the students to the military court, Mr Krissadang said, where they will not seek bail. Doing so is tantamount to accepting the military court's authority, the lawyer added.
They are civilians and want to stand trial only in a civilian court, Mr Krissadang said.
As of press time last night, the students were still being questioned at the police station, a Phra Ratchawang police officer said.
The arrests came as the US State Department yesterday issued its latest annual human rights report, in which it accuses the military regime of "severely limiting civil liberties, restricting freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press".
The US State Department's 2014 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices said last year's coup has affected the human rights situation in Thailand, especially the summonses and detentions that clearly indicate rights restrictions by the coup makers led by Gen Prayut.
Meanwhile, the government suspects various groups of anti-coup students who recently came out to defy its authority have the backing of certain politicians.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday said he believed that some elements have encouraged the student groups to stage recent protests against the government.
He referred to some anti-coup students who recently staged rallies in the Pathumwan area and on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok on Thursday, as well as the Dao Din group from Khon Kaen.
"I have shown respect and given credit to students and teachers all along," Gen Prayut said.
"I gave them a chance. They were called in for talks. But despite the talks, they still refuse to comply. This shows there must be something behind it. The NCPO is looking into it," the prime minister added.
Gen Prayut said the government is duty-bound to enforce the law and maintain order and cannot tolerate anyone defying the law.
"Their actions are not in line with democracy," Gen Prayut said.
Deputy Defence Minister and army chief Udomdej Sitabutr yesterday also accused some politicians of backing groups of students protesting against the May 22, 2014 coup and the military government.
Gen Udomdej said he knows who the politicians are, but he refused to identify them, saying the government is trying to reach an understanding with them.
"They are a group that is dissatisfied with the administration of the government. However, I would like to say that we still respect them and may have practical talks. We will not let this go," he said.
"I can tolerate the actions of the student groups over the past two days. I will try to be patient. But I stress that things must not escalate because that would lead to violence. Police will handle illegal actions," he said.
Gen Udomdej warned that if student protests spread, people who disagreed with them would confront them and violence would break out.
He urged groups concerned to share their views through the Centre for Reconciliation and Reform.
Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday played down the US annual human rights report, saying it reflected only the US view of other countries' internal affairs.
Maj Gen Sansern called on the US to present credible evidence to prove the veracity of the report's claims and show where and how they had collected the information used to assess human rights situations in each country.
He added that Thailand does not prioritise the perspectives of any outside person or organisation but places sole importance upon the daily realities of Thai people.
"The country has returned to a peaceful situation again since the National Council for Peace and Order has ended the conflicts as well as the confrontations among people," he said.
The deputy spokesman also insisted the government allowed people to voice their opinions through many existing channels, especially with the reform process.
"The government will not allow any group to use 'freedom' for political purposes or personal interests because it could lead the country back into conflict again," Maj Gen Sansern said.