Following the
charges filed by the present government against some groups of people /the NGOs
/ academics and students who came out to express their views which are within
their constitutional rights,

I see that
the government is infringing and threatening the people’s rights and freedom
which is against the constitution.

It is the
right of the people to express themselves, especially so for the two groups,
the “We Walk group that came out to rally at Thammasat University, Rangsit
Campus” and the “the group calling for democracy that rallied in
front of the Siam Paragon complex”.

Both
groups have come out to make their expressions openly and honestly.

They came
out to express their beliefs so that the people will see the importance of
having their rights and freedom and to have an understanding of what social
welfare is and how the government should be responsible for the welfare of its
people – like having food security for the country, the environment and
community rights.

All the issues mentioned will guarantee a good quality of life for
the people.  It does not affect the
rights of any individuals but it is the within the rights of a citizen to be
able to express himself openly and honestly. 

It was
mentioned that they would like to see the return of democracy and have a clean
and fair election soonest,  as well
as  have the government clear the
people’s doubts on the irregularities involving the possession
of….”mother’s ring and friend’s watch” which were said to have been
borrowed.  From what is known, there are
25 watches valued at over 30 million baht. 
The recommendations from both groups should be useful to the
government in that it can explain about the country’s transparency and answer doubts
that the people have of its image.

All these
are ways in which the government can have a chance to clear itself.

If the
government accepts this and is willing to be transparent about it, it will be a
more dignified way rather than resorting to the use of threats against the
honest opinions of the people.

Resorting to such acts will worsen the situation for the
government and will become an attempt 
for a wider cover-up.

I have carefully
considered the opinions expressed by both the groups / the NGOs / the academics
and students and I do not see how the charges against them come within the
scope by which they are charged, “such action violates the order and uses
language that is not intended within the constitution in order to create
agitation or disobedience among the people to the extent that it may cause
unrest in the Kingdom” in any way.

Especially now that the country has adopted the Constitution of
the Kingdom of Thailand 2017, whereby all Thais come under this charter and by
whereby all Thais shall have equal rights. 
Apart from adhering to the regulations set out in it, [the people] shall
be guaranteed the rights and freedom as stipulated therein, in particular,
as given in Section 34 which says “A person shall enjoy the liberty
to express opinions, make speeches, write, print, publicize and express by
other means. The restriction of such liberty shall not be imposed,……………….”

Therefore, when the
government or the Deputy Prime Minister and Head of Defense (Gen. Prawit)
stated that “we will take care of the mobs because we are sovereign. Anything
else?….”  I think that this is an
expression of opinion that is not correct.

In truth, all of you who are running the country are also under
the same constitution.  The word “sovereignty
or absolute power” in which you can do want you want has ended since April
6, 2017.  Today, it is even more
necessary for the NCPO to respect the rights and freedom of the people and
whenever you infringe on these rights you will be going against the
constitution.

I still
confirm my belief that it is useful to have different opinions in a democratic
system.  We have to listen to other
people’s opinions so that we can develop our own way of thinking in a more
rounded way.  I believe that no one knows
everything and that everything has its good points and bad points for which we
must listen and think over.

If you look at the good side of what the groups have come out to
expressed, you will see what they think of the way you run the country and what
they think of “your promises”.  You should then improve on these so that they
will meet the needs of the people.  It
should not be that when anyone sees things differently, he is restrained and if
anyone thinks differently, he is obstructed.

This is
not the trait of a good leader.

I had said
before that the Thai society has a certain characteristic in that “the
more you put pressure on it, the more it responds in kind”.  This is not conducive to anyone – neither
to your group nor to the country.

I still
strongly believe that “the use of freedom of rights and peaceful means,
without violence and within the frame of the constitution is the right way [to
take any actions].  I do not agree with
any of the government’s actions to press charges against the people who are
calling on their rights within the framework of the law as this is considered
an infringement on the rights and freedom of the people which could be an act
that goes against the constitution in itself. 
It should not be forgotten that the constitution is the highest law of the
land.  Should any orders be used in a way
that contradicts the constitution, it shall be taken that such orders are not lawful.”

Phumtham
Wechayachai

Secretary-General,
Pheu Thai Party

February 1, 2018