BANGKOK — A former Pheu Thai MP turned himself in to the junta just before noon today for an “attitude adjustment” session but vowed to sue over illegal detention if he is not quickly released.
Just before arriving at the 11th Army Circle headquarters in Bangkok on Monday, Watana Muangsook wrote on Facebook that he will not agree to submit himself to arbitrary, illegal detention.
Pheu Thai’s Watana Promises to Surrender by Monday
“I’m coming to meet the NCPO per its order for me to report myself at 11th AC,” Watana wrote, referring to the junta by its formal name, the National Council for Peace and Order. “But the NCPO has no power to detain me for any purpose. If I am not released by 3pm today, it means the NCPO has abused its power and stripped me of my liberty with its detention.”
Watana, who has been detained by the military several times since it seized power in a bloodless 2014 coup, was ordered to turn himself in five days ago for his stated opposition to the draft constitution the junta wants voters to adopt in a referendum now slated for August.
Watana said his opinion would be unswayed by the military’s tactics and that he would file suit should he be held after 3pm.
“In that case, I will take legal action against everyone involved. Let me insist again that I did not do anything wrong, and that I will certainly not accept the draft constitution,” he said.
The military government recently announced it has prepared a seven-day “course” for its most persistent critics who will be detained for re-education on military bases.
Watana arrived at the army base at around 11am and talked to several Western diplomats who were observing the situation.