Thai junta airs propaganda videos to show detainees treated well

Propaganda videos distributed by Thailand’s new military junta began airing on Wednesday on television stations to assure the public that all those it is holding in custody are being treated well.

The footage, released on army-run TV Channel 5 late on Tuesday and broadcast on other stations on Wednesday, showed several detainees speaking to army officers. Among them was Jatuporn Prompan, the leader the “red shirt” movement that supports the ousted government.

The army, which holds most of the government it overthrew, has summoned more than 260 people, mostly politicians, scholars, journalists and activists seen as critical of the regime. It is unknown how many are in custody.

Jatuporn, who was shown wearing a white T-shirt while talking to an army officer, seemed fatigued and appeared to have lost weight. He claimed he was “OK” and said, “Now everyone knows how each other feels and should do everything not to let the country lose.”

But Jatuporn is not able to speak freely, and the military has confiscated all mobile phones of those in custody.

The May 22 military coup, Thailand’s second in eight years, deposed an elected government that had insisted for months that the nation’s fragile democracy was under attack from protesters, the courts, and finally the army.