Tired from work and a bad lifestyle? The junta’s brand new attitude adjustment camp, aimed at the nation’s leaders, will take you for a health check-up, and adjust you to a healthy lifestyle and, above all, the attitude which is suitable for the junta’s nation-building strategy. The camp is available at your nearest military base.  

 

 

The camp follows the “Training Curriculum for Leaders in Creative Nation-Building”, which is at least seven days long, depending on the ability of the trainee to adjust her or his attitude. The daily activities involve waking up at 5 am, taking a bath, having a short period for leisure, and working out in the morning. Later, the trainees will attend lectures on the goals of the junta’s administration, followed by a “discussion session.” In the evening, there will be a recreational activity to reduce stress, and they will go to bed at 9.30 pm, said Gen Piyapong Klinphan, the junta’s spokesperson and a supervisor of the project, reported the Thai News Agency

 

After the camp finishes, instead of receiving a certificate, trainees have to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) stating that they will stop all political activities and stop instigating conflict. Those who violate the MOU might be invited to take the course again.        

 

Want to join? Gen Piyapong said that people who could be invited to the camp are those who criticize the junta in public forums and social media and who may be deemed threats to national security. He added that the junta is monitoring groups of activists and considering if they will be invited to take the course. 

 

A health check-up will be provided to ensure the public that the trainees are treated well in the military camp, not beaten or tortured as media like to report.

 

The general added that the programme is an attempt to build understanding with the dissidents, which will help the country “transit” to a “brighter future”. The junta, however, hoped that no one has to attend the course.

On Wednesday, 7 April 2016, Watana Muangsuk, a Pheu Thai politician who has been taken to two attitude adjustment sessions in the past month, posted an article titled ‘Politician’s Indoctrination Session’, on his Facebook fan page. 

 

Watana said that the course aims to silence voices against the referendum and the draft constitution. He urges the junta to believe in people’s maturity and let the public to have a free political discussion.  

 

“The upcoming charter referendum is very significant for the future of the country. To let the public freely discuss the content of the draft is the only way to ensure the quality of the referendum and acceptance from the people,” Watana stated on his Facebook post.