Thailand’s Junta Threatens Former Commerce Minister with Charges if he Doesn’t Stop his Political Comments

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BANGKOK -  Thailand’s Military Junta may charge Thailand’s former Commerce Minister, Pheu Thai MP Watana Muangsook in a military court in the next couple of days if he refuses to comply with the military regime’s demand to stop his political comments.

According to Thai PBS, the National Council for Peace and Order said that military officers at Surasee camp in Kanchanaburi where he has been held in custody met Mr Watana to convince him to stop his political activities and stop making political comments in a way which “implicates the third party in an improper manner.”

However, the source said that Mr Watana still insists on his right to free expressions which he claimed to be sincere and well-meaning.

The source said that the Military would try again to convince the defiant ex-Commerce Minister to change his stance after which the NCPO may take him to the military court.

Mr Watana is facing a charge of defying NCPO’s order 39/2557 regarding terms of condition for the release of people ordered to report themselves to the NCPO.

The source maintained that the charge against Mr Wattana has nothing to do with his latest criticism against the draft constitution.

The source said that Mr Watana was not locked up in a detention cell but kept at a place equipped with all the conveniences. Visits by his relatives are permissible, said the source, adding that Mr Watana has however turned down a visit request by the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.