WATANA MUANGSOOK, a key Pheu Thai figure and former commerce minister, was detained by the Army yesterday after he posted a comment on Facebookaccusing Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan of discrimination and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) of not wanting to return power to the country.

His whereabouts were not disclosed as of 6pm yesterday, while the party issued a statement yesterday demanding Watana’s immediate release.

Prawit explained that he had to summon Watana because his Facebook post was untrue, adding that he did not know how long the former minister will be held as it was up to the NCPO. He went on to say that the Army “may have just invited the former commerce minister to have a meal together”.

Promising that he would adhere to the law when dealing with Watana, Prawit said “I told him earlier not to attack others. So don’t blame me. I’m not blaming anybody. But if someone keeps making false allegations and they do it 100 times, they will be summoned 100 times. And the next time the summonses could possibly last three to seven days.”

NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said Watana’s post was in reference to certain figures and organisations, which could lead to people misunderstanding the NCPO, which is why he had to be summoned for “a talk”.

Winthai added that since Watana had been affected by the NCPO’s actions, it was understandable that he is biased and pessimistic about the NCPO. However, he said, the authorities have to ensure peace, hence those who voice baseless comments will need to have their attitude adjusted and “reconciled”.

Some 12 military officers showed up at Watana’s home in Bangkok’s Prawet district yesterday, a member of his family said. When told that the former minister was not at home, the soldiers waited for several hours before he showed up and was detained.

An NCPO source said it is believed that the moves being made by politicians recently were to gain favour from their parties, and at the same time they can promote themselves as democracy fighters to win public support.

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai issued an official statement calling for Watana’s immediate release and for the returning of people’s full rights and freedoms.

Separately, the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group has claimed that the authorities are intensifying efforts to intimidate academics, who are critical of the junta by sending Army officers to their homes.

It claimed at least 77 academics have been harassed at home, with soldiers telling them to adjust their mindset since the military seized power nearly two years ago.

At least five academics have been forced to go into exile, said Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, a member of the lawyers group, which provides legal aid and monitors rights violations in Thailand.

“With legitimacy stretching thin and achievements falling flat, the junta feels the pressure to silence critics to maintain its power,” Poonsuk told Reuters.

In a February 24 report, Amnesty International said Thailand had dismissed international calls not to silence dissent. Last week, self-exiled prominent academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun took to social media to accuse the junta of intimidating his family in Thailand.

“To hunt me is already unacceptable. But for them to go after my family is really too much,” he told Reuters via Skype. “This has to be the junta’s most daring move yet.”

Winthai, however, denied that the military is pursuing academics with greater zeal and told Reuters he was unaware of any intimidation of Pavin’s family.

Authorities issued an arrest warrant for Pavin in June 2014, one month after the coup, for ignoring junta summonses to attend a military “attitude adjustment” session while abroad. His passport was revoked the following month.

The junta’s pursuing of academics highlights its growing insecurity, said Kan Yuenyong, an analyst at the Siam Intelligence Unit think-tank.

Kan pointed out that the Army might be seeing academics as a mouthpiece, whose messages hold greater significance. Hence, he said, their criticism can do a lot to undermine the junta’s legitimacy.