On 26th March 2016 at 10.40am, military officers led
by Colonel Arthit Deepraserth, chief-of-staff of the 2nd Artillery Regiment
have detained Mr. Worachai Hema, former Pheu Thai Party’s Member of Parliament
from his own home, located on 555/340 Le Nio Village 2, Sri Nakarin Road,
Bangmuang Muang district, Samutprakarn province. He has been detained from his
house to an unknown destination on a white van with a license plate no. of 4878
Prachineburi. 

After the detainment, Pheu Thai Party has closely
monitored and is seriously concerned of the situation. The detainment of Mr.
Worachai by military officers under direct authority of the government is in
severe violation of basic human rights. Pheu Thai Party is calling upon the
government to follow these actions instantly;    

 1. The government must release Mr. Worachai
immediately. If Mr. Worachai has broken any laws, he must be informed with such
charges. He must not be detained without any prior notification of his
allegation. This act is not only violating human right but also against the
International Covenant on Civil and Political rights especially on freedom of
speech and liberty.

 2. The government must respect Thai people’s
basic rights to freedom of speech. Since the coup seized power in 2014,
hundreds of politicians, academics, media, students and civilians were being
detained for “attitude adjustments”. More than 1,500 civilians were arrested
and tried in military court. More than 200 websites, TV and radio stations were
shut down. These acts of government are gravely violating people’s freedom.
Pheu Thai Party strongly urge NCPO and the government to seriously reconsider
such violations.  

 3. Pheu Thai Party has monitored Mr. Worachai’s
public comments closely and believe that his recent comment is a genuine one
not an attempt to create any conflict. According to his interview on 24th March
2016, Mr. Worachai simply asked the Prime Minister to show responsibility
should people vote against the draft charter. His request was an
internationally accepted manner in democracy. Mr. Worachai therefore should not
be guilty of an honest comment.  

 Finally Pheu Thai Party condemns all kinds of
violations on people’s basic right and freedom. We demand the government to
immediately release Mr. Worachai and give probable and specific reason for this
detainment to the public. Pheu Thai Party strongly insists that violation of
human rights is not a resolution to our country’s conflicts. Different
viewpoints must be allowed and respected in order to develop democracy. Such
acts of the government will only inevitably create negative impacts on its
images and our country in the international community. 

Pheu Thai Party

27th March 2016