Regime defends legal action

Leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (right) and deputy Piyabutr Saengkanokku of the Future Forward Party say the National Council for Peace and Order has harmed the image of the country by charging them with computer crime. (File photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Thursday defended its decision to lodge police complaints against three key Future Forward party figures, saying they distorted facts.

Spokesman, Maj Gen Piyapong Klinpan, said legal action was not intended to intimidate the newly-registered political party, a strong critic of the regime.

He said the complaints were lodged because Future Forward party members distorted information during comments streamed live that adversely affected the NCPO's reputation.

In the complaint lodged by Col Burin Thongprapai, the three figures, including party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, were accused of provoking public disturbances and violating the Computer Crime Act over remarks made on June 29. The complaint was filed with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD).

The trio were commenting on an alleged campaign to woo former MPs into the arms of the Phalang Pracharat Party, which is alleged to be in league with the government.

They reportedly claimed that lawsuit threats were made against the former MPs in an attempt to lure them into the regime's camp.

According to Maj Gen Piyapong, the NCPO acted in line with the law and had no intent to bully any individual when asked about criticism that the move was undermining freedom of expression.

In a statement on its Facebook page, the Future Forward party insisted the NCPO's action against them had damaged the image of the country. Mr Thanathorn and the two others met police Thursday.

Maj Gen Piyapong also said the regime had yet to look into claims by Pheu Thai members, Pichai Naripthaphan and Sunisa Divakorndamrong, that they were being followed by the military.

Mr Pichai, a former energy minister, was summoned Thursday to report to the TCSD to answer a charge related to his criticism of the regime.

He was accused of posting a false statement that could undermine national security, the economy or trigger panic. He said it might be connected to an article on economic policy he posted last week.