The Thai junta leader has said that he cannot guarantee safety for activists who are demanding a probe into Rajabhakti Park corruption scandal while the activists announced that state’s anti-corruption agencies have failed to do their jobs.

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, on Tuesday, 8 December 2015, told media that the authorities only barred activists who were on an excursion to Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province yesterday to investigate corruption allegations surrounding it in order to prevent conflicts and confrontations with other political groups.

“It would lead to conflict and disorder.  Do you want disorder? Then expand it and just go. Any group who wants to go [to Rajabhakti Park] just go and they will fight each other. They you prevent it yourself. I would not be responsible,” said the junta leader.

On the same day, Sirawit Serithiwat, an anti-junta activist from Thammasat University who led the failed excursion to Rajabhakti Park yesterday condemned the detention of him and more than 20 other activists.

He and other activists were recently released last night after the authorities cut off the train bogie which they were in before noon on Monday at Ban Pong Train Station in Ratchaburi Province. After that, they were detained and interrogated by the authorities before being transferred to Phutthamonthon Park in Nakhon Prathom Province, west of Bangkok.    

Holding a press briefing in Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus, at around 2:30 pm on Tuesday amid heavy presence of police officers, the activist said that they have not been backed by any political group and are sincere in demanding the park probe.

Sirawit stated that the state’s anti-corruption agencies have failed in shedding light on the park corruption scandal and are doubled-standards.

The activist also condemned the action of certain people who were throwing rocks and other objects at the activists while they were led into a bus after they were detained by military officers yesterday.

Some people who came to the train station to rally against the activists many of whom were wearing yellow shirts, the color of the pro-establishment political camp, said that they should have never been borned as Thais and that the activists are just paid to discredit the junta.

Sirawit said that he welcomes different ideas from any political group, but not ‘violence’.

The activist also question as to why the staff of Phutthamonthon Park allowed military officers to use the park to detain him and other activists, saying it should never have happened since the park is a religious place.

He added that Phutthamonthon Park’s staff should be investigated.

Prior to the briefing, the police officers attempted to prevent Sirawit and other activists from staging the briefing. Through negotiation, however, the police officers later allowed them to talk.

Sirawit Serithiwat (center) held a press briefing in Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus, on 8 December, amid heavy presence of police officers.