The detention of Watana Muangsook by the junta has been slammed by Human Rights Watch, with the organization calling for his immediate release.
Watana’s daughter is also seeking the help of the US embassy to determine if her father’s detention is a violation of his human rights.
Human Rights Watch said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) showed it can’t handle criticism and opposition by arresting and detaining Watana, who is the former commerce minister and ex-Pheu Thai MP, simply for publicly opposing the draft constitution.
“The Thai junta, by gagging a prominent critic, has heightened the climate of fear ahead of the constitutional referendum,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“The detention of Watana for openly opposing the draft charter is a clear warning that the junta is prepared use intimidation and arrests to get their way in the referendum.”
The junta ordered Watana to report to the 11th Army Circle Camp in Bangkok on April 18. He was later transferred to a military facility at the 9th Infantry Division in Kanchanaburi province near the Thai-Burmese border, reported the Nation.
Watana’s daughter, Weerada Muangsook, earlier today submitted a letter written by her father before he was detained on Monday to staff at the US embassy.
In the letter, Watana asks the US to investigate whether the NCPO has abused its power by detaining a person with different political views, or whether the action contravened human rights.
Earlier yesterday Weerada also sought help from the European Union over the same charge of human rights violation, reported Thai PBS.
And last night, four activists were detained for several hours when they gathered at Victory Monument to demand the release of Watana.
The activists and their supporters gathered at the skywalk near Victory Monument at 6pm to observe a moment of silence. Crowd-control police were deployed at the scene when the activists arrived.
The four activists were allegedly taken to a military unit at Sanam Pao in a van and then to the Saphan Khwai area to be released three hours later with no charges brought against them, reported Bangkok Post.
Watana will reportedly be escorted to the military court to hear the charges against him on April 25.
