'One of the biggest political purges' in recent times

SINGAPORE - The lists of those summoned by Thailand's junta are read out on television, and they are given just about half a day to report to the army compound. After they turn up, they are questioned for hours, then driven away in vans with tinted windows. Their mobile phones are taken away. And they disappear from public view.

While the junta has shifted its focus to reviving an economy battered by six months of political conflict since it seized control of the country last Thursday, it has not let up on the huge operation to snuff out dissent or resistance. Soldiers with sweeping powers under martial law are raiding homes and offices to round up a far wider list of people including prominent activists and academics.

The detentions, says the junta, are necessary to create a "sustainable" form of "peace and order". It hopes to make detainees "change their opinion" and gives the assurance that they will not be prosecuted after being released.

Army chief Prayuth Chan- ocha had said on Monday at his first press conference after the coup: "If you try to provoke the situation we will call you again.

Right now we ask you to stay calm. We have had these conflicts for nine years. We need to restore our country's and foreigners' confidence."

Observers call it one of the biggest political purges in recent times.

A Bangkok-based security analyst told The Straits Times: "At a political level, it's intended to purge the country of the Thaksin family, his cronies, his party and his influence."

Thaksin Shinawatra was the prime minister of Thailand until a military coup in 2006, but he continued to influence the country through his political and business networks. His sister, Yingluck, was made premier after the Puea Thai party's landslide victory in 2011, but was thrown out by the Constitutional Court on May 7.

So far, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) - as the junta calls itself - has summoned more than 200 people. Those who do not show up risk having their assets and financial transactions frozen, a fine of 40,000 baht (S$1,500), and a two-year jail term.

A large number of those summoned are linked to Thaksin. They range from Puea Thai party politicians, including secretary- general Phumtham Wechayachai, to leaders of "red shirt" pro-Puea Thai movement United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship.

But they also include non- aligned but outspoken figures like Thammasat University associate law professor Worachet Pakeerut and The Nation's senior journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk.

As of last Saturday, about 150 people remained under military detention. Ms Yingluck, who was taken in on Friday, was released yesterday. She is believed to be under strict supervision.

Troops are conducting a sweep of red shirt heartlands in the north-east, driving even academics into hiding. After Thursday's coup, armed soldiers turned up at the home of Chiang Mai University political scientist Tanet Charoenmuang three times, he said. He was in hiding when this reporter last spoke to him on Friday and efforts to reach him since then have failed.

The NCPO has assured the country that detainees are treated well, but this cannot be verified. One red shirt activist who was detained on Thursday and released yesterday said he spent his time in solitary confinement in a 10 sq m military cell with a rag to sleep on and a bucket of water for bathing.

Mr Nattapat Akkahad, 25, said he was not physically harmed, but was made to sign a statement saying that he would not take part in political activities, to secure his release.

He says he will not let up, though. "If they want to arrest me, then just let them arrest me," he told The Straits Times.

This article was first published on May 28, 2014.
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