BANGKOK
The Thai junta released Wednesday footage of detained politicians and activists in a dramatic attempt to improve its image after Tuesday's bungling arrest of a former minister mid-press conference and the implementation of harsh post-coup measures.
The video footage shows a group of leaders from Thailand's "Red Shirt" movement speaking to military officers, among them Jatuporn Phrompan, the leader of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) -- the formal name of the Red Shirts.
Appearing tired and thinner, the usually imposing Jatuporn said he is "OK" and that "everyone knows how each other feels and should do everything not to let the country lose."
The footage was initially released on an army-run channel Tuesday evening and then broadcast on other channels Wednesday to show that the detainees were being treated well.
Red Shirts are opposed to the traditional Thai elite and support popular former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, ousted in a 2006 coup.
On Wednesday morning, the military released its first figures of the number of people who remain in detention. It said that of the 253 politicians, activists, and academics summoned by the junta, 76 remain in detention, 124 have been released, while 53 never even reported to the military.
Among those yet to report was former education minister Chaturon Chaisaeng, who was arrested in full view of international media during Tuesday's press briefing, in what proved to be a public relations disaster for the military.
The chaotic event, broadcast by major international TV channels, was published on the front of most Thai newspapers Wednesday.
Before his arrest, Chaturon had said that "the coup was an abrogation of democracy" that will "only make things worse."
The military said Tuesday that Chaturon would be tried before a martial court for not adhering to the summons, however, it soon softened its stance by saying that he will be allowed a lawyer.
Chaturon is being held at a civilian jail, rather than a military facility like other detainees -- such as prominent Thai journalists Pravit Rojanaphruk of The Nation newspaper and Thanapol Eawsakul of Thai magazine Fah Diaw Kan.
The military's chief judicial officer Vice-Admiral Krissada Charoenpanich said Chaturon might be held for anything up to 84 days.
After the Thai military’s declaration of a coup Thursday, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha appointed himself prime minister. He received the King’s official endorsement to head the country’s junta Monday.
Chan-ocha's military council has ordered ministers from the overthrown government and around 120 politicians from all sides and civil society leaders to report to the country's new leaders at an army base in Bangkok. Among those summoned was deposed prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin’s younger sister, who was released Sunday evening with a ban from engaging in political activities.
Earlier in the week, Thai academics strongly criticized Thai military leaders for restrictions imposed on freedom of expression and media activity.
A group of 77 Thai scholars published a letter, asking "please, stop jeopardizing academic freedom by keeping critical views off media outlets."
"Absolute power without accountability and transparency, all the while silencing critics, will never bring peace, equality and justice to any society including Thailand," it read.
Since seizing power, the Thai junta has asked media not to interview "anyone without an official position."
The military has dissolved the Senate, abrogated the constitution, suspended 14 TV channels and is exerting heavy censorship on the channels that have been permitted to resume their programs.
On Tuesday, the junta summoned two Thai journalists after military supremo Chan-ocha stormed out of a press conference when one of them insistently asked how long he would remain prime minister.
The journalists were told to "not corner him with pushy questions."
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