US 'deeply troubled' by detention

US 'deeply troubled' by detention

The US State Department has expressed concern following reports a Pheu Thai party member has been detained by soldiers since Tuesday after submitting an open letter to the highest-ranking US diplomat in Thailand about former PM Yingluck Shinawatra's impeachment.

Mr Ruangkrai, known as 'Jack the Giant Slayer', meets special investigation executives to seek probe into former deputy PM Chalerm Yubamrung's luxury car ownership in 2013. (File photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)

AP reported from Washington on Saturday the State Department said it was deeply troubled by the junta's detention of critics after an opposition activist was reportedly held over a letter addressed to a US diplomat.

The department said it has heard of the reports. It called for Thai authorities to stop summoning and detaining political figures, academics, journalists, online commentators, and peaceful protesters. It urged the immediate release of those held.

Ruangkrai Leekijwattana was taken from his home to Army Division 11 in Bangkok late on Tuesday, a Pheu Thai source said on Friday, adding the military was "very displeased" with his submission of the letter to US charge d'affaires Patrick Murphy.

The letter said Ms Yingluck's impeachment was politically motivated and questioned the legitimacy of the National Legislative Assembly in impeaching her.

"After Mr Ruangkrai sent the letter, we couldn't reach him that evening. A person close to him said a group of armed soldiers, led by a colonel, came to his house in 3-4 vans to talk to him. After a while, they took him with them."

A call to Mr Ruangkrai's mobile phone by Matichon Online indicated the device was turned off.

Security officers have the power to detain any person under martial law for seven days.

Mr Ruangkrai first made headlines in 2006 when he told reporters he had to pay tax on the capital gains when he bought Bangkok Expressway Plc (BECL) shares from his father at 10 baht compared to the stock price at 21 baht a share then.

His point was to draw an analogy to a case in which Thaksin Shinawatra and his ex-wife Khunying Pojamarn sold shares to their children and relatives at par without being taxed on the capital gains.

The Revenue Department later returned the tax it charged on Mr Ruangkrai but he refused to cash the cheque and filed a case against the department for discrimination.

He was later appointed senator in 2008 and joined the Group of 40 senators known to be against Thaksin.

But his biggest achievement was when he filed a case with the Constitutional Court in 2008, accusing then prime minister Samak Sundaravej of having conflict of interest when he hosted a TV cooking show. The court ruled in his favour and removed Mr Samak from office in September.

His crusade has since earned him the title "Jack the Giant Slayer".

After the 2010 military crackdown on red-shirt protesters, however, Mr Ruangkrai began leaning more toward the Thaksin camp. He ran as Pheu Thai party-list MP candidate in the botched 2014 general election.

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