Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has told anti-coup activists not to use The Hunger Games film series as motivation in the fight against him.
“The movie does not provide the impetus for the fight against me,” Gen Prayuth said.
“The movie is just made up so it should not be exploited. It’s just a drama, not real,” he said.
The film symbolises rebellion against totalitarian rule.
His comments come after three students were detained on Thursday for anti-coup activities outside two Bangkok cinemas showing the latest Hunger Games film.
Two of them were caught at Scala cinema for giving media interviews.
The third was taken into custody outside Siam Paragon cinema after flashing the three-finger gesture from the movie.
The students were detained one day after five members of Khon Kaen University’s Dao Din student group flashed the three-finger salute at Gen Prayut while he was delivering a speech during his visit to the province.
They were detained and discharged hours later.
“I appreciate the courage of them [the students] but they should use their courage in the right way,” Gen Prayut said.
Gen Prayut said he was not worried about the escalating student movement against him; rather he is more concerned about students breaking the law and ruining their futures.
Asked if the movie would be banned, Gen Prayut said he never gave such an order.
Meanwhile, national police chief Somyot Pumpunmuang said yesterday military and police officers will avoid using force against anti-coup activists, citing the policy of Gen Prayut and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
The activists will be called for meetings to boost their understanding and have their attitudes adjusted, Pol Gen Somyot said. However, if the incidents keep on occurring, police may need to prosecute the students, but talks would be prioritised at this stage, he said.
Gen Ekachai Srivilas, the director of the King Prajadhipok’s Institute’s Peace and Governance Bureau, said the anti-coup movement conducted by students shows that there is still resentment of the current government within society.
This is because the opposition has no channel to express their views, he said.
National Human Rights Commission chairwoman Amara Pongsapich said yesterday students have the right to express their views. If the government believes the movement contravenes martial law, it must explain the issue, she said.