Bangkok Diary: Thai Govt To Re-Educate Its Critics

By Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa Bernama's correspondent Mohd Haikal Isa shares his side of the story in Bangkok. This week he shares with readers the out of the ordinary approach taken by the Thai government to tame hardcore critics. BANGKOK, April 7 (Bernama) -- Thailand's military-led government is to take a hard-line approach on its critics, where they will be sent for "re-education" programmes at the military camps in the country's volatile southern region. The controversial programme was the brainchild of Prime Minister Gen.Prayuth Chan-o-cha and could be extended to others, including 'errant' journalists. "I initiated the idea myself. In the past they (critics) were summoned to come and undergo an 'understanding' session, but when they went back their behaviour did not change. "So we need to have a course to train and educate them about ethics and morality as well as good governance so that they will no longer criticise the government," said the premier to the local media recently. Prayuth's government has been at the receiving end of politicians and civil society leaders after its appointed-committee unveiled the final draft of the country's constitution before a referendum this August. Politicians opposing the military-led government alleged the draft among others violated the basic democratic principles and paves the way for the military led government to cling on to power. Prayuth's proposal for "re-education" programme came as the government detained two politicians from the Pheu Thai party, Worachai Hemma and Wattana Muangsook for an "attitude adjustment" in recent weeks. However, the prime minister felt that the "attitude adjustment" approach was ineffective in curbing dissenting views especially from serial critics, thus there was a need for a more robust "re-education" programme. Wattana who was detained 73 hours for "attitude adjustment" by the military was unrepentant despite being "adjusted" and immediately after his release he issued a statement in his Facebook account snubbing the authorities. "Tomorrow I will continue to issue political opinions," he said defiantly. Meanwhile, the Army Chief Gen. Terrachai Nakwanich was quoted as saying that the hard-line critics of the government would be sent to military camps in southern Thai including in Pattani and Yala to undergo attitude adjustment sessions. The army general who is also the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) secretary-general said the council has prepared a list of people that needed "attitude adjustment" session, pointing that most of them were the "same old faces." The "attitude" session and "re-education" programme he claimed was instituted to ensure peace and order by dispelling attempts to attack the government with distorted information guised under "democracy" and "human rights." -- BERNAMA