The Thai military have summoned former Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Pheu Thai Party in Isan, Thailand’s northeast, for a discussion after their names appeared on the junta’s list of ‘influential figures’.
Matichon Online and Thairath News reported that Kriang Kanpatinan and Worasit Kaltinunt, former MPs of the Pheu Thai Party from the Isan province of Ubon Ratchathani, together with Phisathaya Chaisongkram, Vorasith’s wife, on Monday morning, 30 May 2016, reported to the 22nd Military Circle in Warin Chamrap District of the province.
Kriang told the media that the military contacted him on 26 May and summoned him and Worasit for a discussion with Maj Gen Achichat Rojanapirom, Commander of the 22nd Military Circle, on 30 May.
No media was allowed to observe the discussion.
During the talk, which lasted about 30 minutes, Maj Gen Achichat informed Kriang that his name is on the Ministry of Interior’s list of influential figures. Kriang told the military officer that he is only a former MP who knows a lot of people and he stays at home most of the time.
Kriang added that at the end of the discussion Maj Gen Achichat asked him if he could help promoting the upcoming public referendum to pass the draft constitution as he knows a lot of people.
Earlier on 12 May, a combined military and police force raided at least a dozen houses in the central provinces of Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao in a campaign called ‘Cleaning Pak-nam, Getting rid of Influential Figures’ to crackdown on mafia.
In a campaign, soldiers and police officers raided the houses of Worachai Hema and Pracha Prasopdee, Pheu Thai Party politicians, Sombat Thongyoi, a 46-year-old cameraman associated with the anti-establishment red shirt, and Thanakorn Siripaiboon, a lèse majesté suspect.
Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, issued National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Head's Order No. 13/2016 to crackdown on influential criminal figures throughout the country more effective.
The new NCPO order grants soldiers with the rank of sub-lieutenant upwards with the authority to arrest and detain suspects, conduct searches, seize assets, suspend financial transactions and impose travel bans on individuals without warrants or judicial review.
Former Pheu Thai MPs accused of being 'influential figures' having a discussion with soldiers on 30 May 2016 (courtesy of Matichon Online)
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