Thai junta releases activist detained for almost a month

Bangkok, June 25 (IANS/EFE) The military junta governing Thailand has said it has released an opposition activist who had been in detention since May 28 this year, media reported Wednesday.

Kritsuda Khunasen, an activist of the Red shirts movement supporting the deposed democratic government, was released Tuesday after appearing on the military-run Channel 5 and saying that he was in a good condition.

The National Council for Peace and Order, formally known as military junta, ordered the arrest of the activist for not presenting himself before the authorities after being summoned for alleged involvement in cyber crimes and illegal possession of weapons, the Bangkok Post reported.

Pro-human rights organisations previously expressed their concern as Kritsuda's location and condition were not known.

At least 511 people, mostly politicians, journalists and activists supporting the deposed government, have been arrested by the military junta, although several of them were freed in the past several days.

Disobeying the military's summon orders, participating in peaceful protests or even clicking "like" on messages criticising the military on Facebook are considered crime.

Military chief Prayuth Chan-ocha led a bloodless coup May 22 this year, after more than six months of anti-government protests, with a promise of reforming the political system before holding parliamentary elections.

Thailand has been witnessing serious political crises since the coup of 2006 against Thaksin Shinawatra, who lives in exile to avoid a two-year prison sentence for corruption. His detractors accused him of leading from a distance the government that was ousted in May.

Thaksin and his allies have won all the elections since 2001, but have been opposed by the monarchy and army, as well as most of the middle class and southern electorate.

Since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932, the Thai military has staged 19 coup attempts, out of which 12 were successful.

--IANS/EFE

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