Thailand’s red shirts take aim at junta, accusing leaders of exploiting recent blasts to ‘destroy competitors’
Officials have hinted that political opponents of the junta were responsible for the attacks but experts have suggested they were carried out by Muslim separatists
Critics of Thailand’s military government accused it on Sunday of taking advantage of last week’s spate of deadly bombings and arson attacks to crack down on its opponents.
The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, better known as the “red shirts”, issued their criticism as Thai authorities said they were keeping security high after attacks Thursday and Friday killed four people – all Thai – and wounded dozens in seven tourist destinations. Injured foreigners came from Austria, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Reports by Thai PBS television and other media said at least three people identified as red-shirt leaders or supporters have been detained since Saturday at army camps, apparently for questioning about the attacks.
They accuse us of being responsible for the violent acts without any evidence or claim to support the accusations
All were reported to have been held under special laws enacted by the junta after it seized power in May 2014 from an elected government. Article 44 and other laws allow the temporary detention of suspects without due process or accountability.
Officials have hinted that political opponents of the junta were responsible for the attacks, but Thai and foreign terrorism experts have suggested they were carried out by Muslim separatists from southern Thailand. It is widely understood that the authorities were casting suspicion upon supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who include the red shirts.
The Sunday before the attacks, a national referendum approved a new constitution proposed by the military government that is supposed to lead to an election next year. The red shirts were among the critics of the charter, calling it undemocratic and saying it was fashioned to keep the military in control for at least five more years even if a free election is held.
“Deliberately causing chaos that would give the NCPO an excuse to keep control and sovereignty for a longer time, and it is not the way to solve any problems of this country,” the red shirts said in a statement Sunday. The junta’s official name is the National Council for Peace and Order.