On Thursday, Worachai called for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), to take responsibility by resigning from the premier’s post if the charter draft is voted down in the upcoming referendum.

During his weekly talk show on Friday, Prayut said people telling him to resign “should be careful” and could be prosecuted under the law.

NCPO spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said the ex-MP’s comments were “uncreative” and “sarcastic” and could lead to a public misunderstanding. They were also controversial regarding the junta’s peacekeeping efforts, Winthai said.

However, a Pheu Thai statement replied that Worachai’s comments were in line with a democratic approach and had not caused any public disturbance.

The military’s forced detention also violated principles of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the party said, adding the action would affect the image of the junta government and of the country.

Worachai should be tried under a legitimate legal process if he is found to have committed a crime, the party said, adding that the government and the NCPO should explain how Worachai’s actions had broken the law.

The party statement also asked the junta to respect people’s freedom of expression after the military had summoned more than 1,500 citizens for “attitude adjustment”.