Academics, journalists rounded up
At least 100 people detained, given ‘time to think’
BANGKOK — In a chilling move apparently aimed at neutralizing critics and potential opposition, Thailand’s new army junta on Saturday ordered dozens of outspoken activists, academics and journalists to surrender themselves to military authorities.
The junta, which already is holding most of the government it ousted in a coup Thursday in secret locations against their will, said it would keep former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and others in custody for up to a week to give them “time to think” and keep the country calm.
Two days after the army seized power in the nation’s first coup in eight years, it also faced scattered protests that came amid growing concern over the junta’s intentions. Also Saturday, the military dissolved the Senate — the last functioning democratic institution left, and absorbed its legislative powers.
“Military rule has thrown Thailand’s rights situation into a free fall,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The army is using draconian martial law powers to detain politicians, activists and journalists, to censor media, and to ban all public gatherings. This rolling crackdown needs to come to an end immediately.”
At least 100 people, mostly top politicians, have been detained incommunicado so far. Deputy army spokesman Col. Weerachon Sukondhapatipak said they were all being well-treated and the military’s aim was to achieve a political compromise.
Weerachon said all those held have had their cellphones confiscated because “we don’t want them communicating with other people. We want them to be themselves and think on their own.”
“This is because everybody involved in the conflict needs to calm down and have time to think,” Weerachon said. “We don’t intend to limit their freedom — it’s to relieve the pressure.”
In a military order broadcast at the start of the day, the junta summoned 35 more people, including politicians, political activists and, for the first time, outspoken academics and some journalists.
One of those on the list, Kyoto University professor of Southeast Asian studies Pavin Chachavalpongpun, said by telephone from Japan that he would not turn himself in. He said the summons meant the junta felt insecure.
“The military claiming to be a mediator in the Thai conflict, that is all just nonsense,” said Pavin, who is frequently quoted by foreign media as an analyst. “This is not about paving the way for reform and democratization. We are really going back to the crudest form of authoritarianism.”
In the evening, the junta broadcast its sixth official order, for a single journalist: Pravit Rojanaphruk, an outspoken columnist for the English- language daily The Nation, who was summoned to report to the army at 10 a.m. today. In a tweet Saturday night, Pravit was defiant, saying “the more they exercise their illegitimate power the more illegitimate they become.”
The junta also ordered banks to freeze the assets of two top politicians it had summoned but who remain in hiding, including the ousted education minister and the chief of the former ruling party.
Gen. Prayuth Chanocha, who leads the junta, has justified the coup by saying the army had to act to avert violence and end half a year of political turmoil triggered by anti- government protests that killed 28 people and injured more than 800.