He made the comment after about 50 former members of Parliament met at a Bangkok hotel on Saturday night.

The meeting was in itself not a worry, said the minister in charge of national security, but such gatherings are still forbidden.

“At this point, we don’t want [politicians] to do anything – just stay in your place,” Prawit said, adding that citizens cannot meet to discuss political reforms either.

“The junta asked you the questions, so you can help answer them,” he said, referring to four questions posed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha regarding the next election.

“But you cannot hold any activities to raise any suggestions [about the answers],” Prawit said.