BANGKOK
Opponents of Thailand's military regime say they have set up a movement to restore democracy to the country in an undisclosed location -- the first announcement of organized resistance since the May 22 coup.
Charupong Ruangsuwan, a former leader of the Puea Thai party (For the Thais party) -- the core party of the overthrown government -- declared Tuesday the establishment of the "Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy" on several websites and on YouTube.
The group will become "the center for all Thais who possess an unyielding desire for full democracy, in full compliance with the principles of democracy, universal human rights, international laws and non-violence," he stated.
The group aims to bring together opponents of the coup from inside and outside Thailand, along with dissidents from outside Thailand’s borders.
According to the Bangkok Post newspaper, former lawmakers, academics, "Red Shirts" -- supporters of the overthrown government of Yingluck Shinawatra -- activists, and other opponents to the coup have already signed up.
Ruangsuwan, a former minister of interior, fled Thailand after the junta summoned him after the coup. He faces an arrest warrant for failing to report to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) -- the junta's official name.
His statement Tuesday strongly attacks the NCPO, headed by Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, denying it any legitimacy.
"The junta has violated the rule of law, abused democratic principles and destroyed your rights, liberties and human dignity," it said, adding that "the military regime and its conspirators have no legitimate power whatsoever to govern the country’s economy and society."
Since the coup, the junta has severely repressed expressions of dissent, however slight. Scores have been arrested for flashing a three-finger salute first used in the French revolution, but now synonymous with "The Hunger Games" series of films.
On Sunday, a student was arrested for eating a sandwich outside of a Bangkok mall while reading George Orwell's critique of totalitarian society "1984," while elsewhere, a woman was seized by police for wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with "Respect my vote."
Police have requested that the population photograph anyone participating in "anti-coup activities" and send them to police headquarters, promising that if the image is used in a successful prosecution the photographer will receive 500 baht ($15).
National Human Rights Commissioner Nirun Pitakwachara told a gathering of journalist's at Thailand's foreign correspondents club Monday that martial law is not the answer to deal with people who have opposing opinions.
"The junta should rather try to understand these different opinions," he added.
The name of the opposition group is taken from the "Free Thai movement" -- an underground movement that resisted Japan's WWII occupation of Thailand and collaborated with allied forces.
In a statement, the group derided the junta's claims that it will transfer, at a later stage, sovereign power back to civilian authorities, calling it an attempt to "create a new puppet structure whose sole purpose will be to re-entrench anti-democratic elements into Thailand’s body-politic."
It listed the "restoration of democracy" and "the reform of Thai culture so that its values are fully consistent with democracy" among its objectives.
As of Tuesday midday, the National Council for Peace and Order had reacted to the declaration.
In February, "Red Shirt" leader Nattawut Saikua first floated the idea of organized resistance -- in the form of a government in exile -- but in Thailand's North or Northeast; two areas where the movement has its strongest support.
Jakrapob Penkair -- a leading "Red Shirt"-in-exile -- told media earlier this month that despite strong relations between the deposed Pheu Thai government and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen it had no intention of setting up such a resistance movement in Cambodia.
He told The Cambodia Daily that a movement would be established, but most likely in a Western nation.
"The activities will range from political-diplomatic to local-group coordinating," he added.
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