The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) on Wednesday summoned 19 leaders of the red-shirt political group supporting former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to answer charges of holding an illegal political gathering to announce their planned referendum monitoring centres early this month.
Members of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) ordered to appear include chairman Jatuporn Prompan and co-leaders Nattawut Saikuar, Tida Tawornseth, Veerakan Musikapong, Weng Tojirakarn, Yongyuth Tiyapairat, Pramual Chuklom and Korkaew Pikulthong.
The move follows a complaint filed by the junta's National Council for Peace and Order to the CSD that the 19 red-shirt leaders violated the NCPO's post-coup order 3/2558 banning any political gathering of more than five people.
The complaint referred to their announcement at the UDD's base at the Imperial shopping centre in Lat Phrao, Bangkok, on June 5 of a plan to set up charter referendum monitoring centres in all provinces to ensure the process was fair.
They have been ordered to appear in person and acknowledge the charges at CSD headquarters in Bangkok on June 30.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered authorities not to allow the UDD to set up the centres, because the red-shirts were politically partial. The Election Commission was capable of ensuring fairness in the Aug 7 referendum, he said.
The military closed the Lat Phrao centre and blocked the opening of the centres in several provinces. UDD leaders subsequently filed a protest petition to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN office in Bangkok.
