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Thai journalist, activists detained for opposing junta's draft constitution
Reuters - July 11, 2016
The group was detained in Thailand's western Ratchaburi province on Sunday after police searched their car and found booklets containing information on the constitution, which will be voted on in next month's referendum.
Police captain Poom Klaklaew said Taweesak Kerdpoka, from news outlet Prachatai, and three members of the New Democracy Movement had violated the Referendum Act. The offence carries a penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
"Police found a few copies of the booklet in his bag," said Kornkritch Somjittranukit, who works with Mr Taweesak at Prachatai. "He told them it was material for his news report, but they arrested him anyway."
Colonel Winthai Suvaree, a junta spokesman, said the arrests were a police matter. "The police probably didn't know who was who when they detained the group," Mr Winthai told the Reuters news agency. "They weren't out to target the journalist."
The latest arrests followed the release last week by a military court of seven activists detained in June for campaigning against the charter.
The August 7 referendum will be the first real rest of the junta's popularity since it took power in a May 2014 coup. The junta has said the referendum will pave the way for an election next year.
Critics, including major political parties, say the constitution will enshrine a political role for the military and weaken civilian governments, worsening the turmoil that has hit Thai politics over the last decade.
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