The government spokesman has denied that the leaders of southern rubber planters were either detained, threatened or assaulted at a military camp in the South.
Lt Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd on Friday denied a Democrat politician's claim that planters' leaders were taken to a military camp in the southern region to prevent them from going to Bangkok to call on the state to address the plunge in rubber prices.
The leaders were invited to the camp for a discussion, to find a common ground, Lt Gen Sansern said.
He was responding to criticism by a Democrat politician, who accused the government of impeding the rubber growers from heading to the capital to demand assistance.
Lt Gen Sansern said the government had never banned the public from voicing their opinions, or making requests. The state’s Damrongtham centres had been set up throughout the country to hear public complaints and opinions.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had also reiterated that the government and the National Council for Peace and Order would listen to propositions from all sides - the public, politicians and law academics.
However, they should not gather or stage demonstrations to do so.
Lt Gen Sansern said it would be better for them to criticise and put forward their views in a constructive way. Politicians should not exploit the rubber price issue for their own political benefit.
The government and junta spokesman also voiced concern over a news report by Voice TV, a digital TV station that belongs to the Shinawatra family, that the standing of Thai online media had ben lowered because its freedom was violated and that internet "freedom" in Thailand was little different from that in socialist countries.
Lt Gen Sansern said the media and the public should reconsider whether the freedom of Thai media had really been diminished. Thai media was, in fact, still able to broadcast news on various topics.
“Online media and social media users should help decide how to reform the media to create a better society. The media must not stir up public conflict or report misleading information that could damage public confidence,” he said.