By Max Constant
BANGKOK
The day after two politicians and a journalist were released from custody, a prominent human rights group has slammed junta leader-cum-prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha for his attitudes towards press freedom.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Asia's Deputy Director for Human Rights Watch Philip Robertson claimed Wednesday that Chan-ocha had an "unbalanced assessment of what is critical of him".
“In any case, he must admit that freedom of expression and freedom of media allow people to voice disagreements,” he added.
The comments come after the release of the two politicians - who were reported to have been detained for "attitude adjustment" sessions for being vocally critical about the junta - and a Thai journalist held for reporting deemed critical of the military government.
Journalist Pravit Rojanapreuk was detained for two days in a military camp before being released Tuesday on signing an agreement saying he would “not lead, participate or assist in any anti-coup movement”.
Pichai Naripthaphan and Karun Hosakul -- involved in the Yingluck Shinawatra government deposed by Chan-ocha's May 2014 military coup -- were released after seven and five days in detention respectively, having been made to sign similar agreements.
Robertson underlined the military’s use of Article 44 in the men's arrests - which he called "the entire problem".
"Article 44 of the interim charter... allows the National Council for Peace and Order’s [NCPO] members to do whatever they want,” said Robertson, using the official terminology for the junta.
“This kind of article is prone to abuse. And I am afraid we are going to see more human rights violations.”
The article empowers the NCPO leader to issue any order “for the sake of reforms in any field… or the prevention or suppression of any act detrimental to national security”.
After the release of the trio on Tuesday, Chan-ocha justified the detention by saying that journalists who find systematic fault with the military regime “lack ethics”.
“If they make only negative comments about the government, how would other countries view Thailand?” he asked local reporters.
He also pointed out that if the released men repeat their critical comments, they would be tried in a court of law.
“I will agree with them no more. There will be no more negotiation,” said the PM.
Robertson suggested that the relatively quick release of the journalists could relate to Chan-ocha's upcoming visit to the United Nations General Assembly next week.
“But it is also due to strong international pressure,” he added.
Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch had called for Rojanapreuk's release as soon as it was made public.
Patrick Murphy, the U.S. charge d’affaires in Bangkok, also reacted to the detention Tuesday, writing on his Twitter account that the U.S. “remained concerned by continued limits on civil liberties, including restrictions on freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly”.
Shinawatra's former energy minister Naripthaphan was summoned and detained Sept. 9 for breaching "conditions set by the junta" on his previous detention.
The Bangkok Post reported that "he had criticized the government economic performance and problem handling on several occasions, and in particular after the National Reform Council shot down the draft constitution".
The military-appointed National Reform Council voted against the junta's draft charter Sept. 6.
Outside of being summoned for "attitude adjustment," the junta placed former Puea Thai MP Karun Hosakul in detention Sept. 10 for "stirring unrest in the country".
