After it was found that Mr. Watana Muangsook had expressed and shared his opinions against the draft charter, the National Council for Peace  and Order (NCPO) had sent soldiers to his home to detain him, but Mr. Watana could not be found.  Today, however, Mr. Watana  himself went to meet the soldiers, as he had earlier announced through the press.  Mr. Watana is now detained by the soldiers without any charges being made.
 
To this, Pheu Thai Party sees that the expressions and sharing of opinions on the draft charter is a basic right as stated  in the Interim Constitution 2014, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,  when it is done on the basis of  truth and does not breach the law.
 
Mr. Watana’s action, or similar actions by any other persons, should not be claimed by the NCPO as posing a danger to the national security or disrupt peace and those persons should not be detained without charges.  Therefore, Mr. Watana’s detainment, on whatever pretext, is to be considered an extreme violation of his basis rights and of the human rights.  There has been excessive use of authority and those with different opinions  are viewed as political enemies.  Such an abuse of authority will not achieve reconciliation, peace, unity and bring about justice in any way.
 
Pheu Thai Party calls on the NCPO to allow people with different points of view to be able to express  their opinions within the framework of the law.  Especially so, when the country needs unity, the NCPO must not use its special powers to deprive the people of their rights to freedom (of expression).  The Party also calls on the NCPO to release Mr. Watana immediately and is ready to express its intention on any actions that it deems to be a violation of the human rights –  whether or not those whose rights are violated are members of the Party.
 
Pheu Thai Party
April 18, 2016