Thailand's military junta has warned that politicians critical of the post-coup government will undergo an intensive "training course", sparking outrage from critics who compared the move with Communist countries' "re-education" programme.
The government yesterday warned that people who "have failed to behave" after being repeatedly summoned for "attitude adjustment" will have to undergo an intensive "training course", 'Nation' newspaper reported today.
The latest move by the generals came under fire as critics likened the plan to "re-education" camps in Communist countries and described it as violation of human rights, the report said.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said that a "training course" would be necessary after politicians failed to get the point after many sessions to adjust their attitude.
"We will hold a training course for them that may last three to seven days. The National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] will be the organiser," Prawit told reporters.
Prime MinisterPrayutChan-o-cha said yesterday that the NCPO's attitude-adjustment sessions would now be held in the form of training courses "for better understanding".
"They will be asked about their behaviour in the past, whether it was right or wrong,"Prayutsaid.
"They will be asked what they would do if they were in government and if they understand what this government is doing. If they don't know, they should no longer be politicians," Prayutadded.
Critics have reacted strongly against the plan to hold training courses for "repeat offender" politicians who refused to toe the junta's line.
The warning has come as the final constitutional draft is set to be submitted to the Cabinet and a national referendum on the draft charter is just months away.
Royal Thai Armed Forces led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha launched a coup, the 12th since the country's first coup in 1932, against the caretaker government of Thailand on 22 May 2014, following six months of political crisis.
Pheu Thai Party obtained a landslide victory in 2011 and formed the government with Yingluck Shinawatra as prime minister. Anti-government protests, led by former Democrat Party secretary general Suthep Thaugsuban, began in November 2013.
