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Thai political activists plan overseas movement to resist military coup
Reuters - June 6, 2014
General Prayuth Chan-ocha seized power on May 22 and has since led a crackdown that has stifled dissent and silenced the 'Red Shirt' supporters of former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
The military has detained many politicians and activists and demanded as a condition of their release that they sign documents pledging to avoid politics and stop anti-coup activities.
Jakrapob Penkair, a former spokesman for Mr Thaksin and Red Shirt founding member, is one of those involved in the resistance campaign.
He says the group has yet to formulate exactly what measures they will use, but they will be peaceful and aim to fill the leadership vacuum among anti-coup elements. "We believe democracy in Thailand has been systematically destroyed," he said from Phnom Penh.
"People have been chastened, hunted and bullied with no sense of fairness, justice or decency. We aim to create an organisation for all groups protesting the coup inside and outside Thailand. This would be a non-radical group using civil disobedience."
Mr Thaksin, who lives in exile since fleeing a 2008 conviction for abuse of power, is not involved in the movement, the group said.
Commentators say it is unclear how much momentum the movement would gain among those opposed to military rule without the backing of Mr Thaksin, who commands the loyalty of millions in the north. "We will advance with or without him," Mr Jakrapob said. "He's not involved and had no influence in setting this up."
Mr Jakrapob was forced to resign as a minister six years ago after he was accused of violating Thailand's strict lese-majeste laws and he now lives in Cambodia.
'Red shirt' leaders summoned
The Thai ruling military has summoned Mr Jakrapob along with other prominent Red Shirt leaders to report on June 9.
The deputy spokesman for the military's National Council for Peace and Order, Winthai Suvaree, says told a news conference the military is monitoring groups resisting the coup.
"Thai law can't touch those who flee abroad but if we know where they are, we will ask for international cooperation to bring them back to Thailand," he said.
"Those who were summoned and do not show up will face the law and their case will be treated as criminal. If they return to Thailand and have cases pending then these may be brought to military court."
Kuy Kuong, a spokesman at Cambodia's foreign ministry, says it has not received any request for such cooperation from Thailand. But Kirth Chantharith, a deputy national police chief, says Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen would not allow resistance groups to base themselves in the country.
"We won't allow anyone to use our soil to plot against any country. Our position is clear," he said.
Sunai, a Thai activist, says some members of the group will remain inside Thailand. "We will fight with information but the strategy is not yet clear."
Sunai says he is in Thailand and on the run after ignoring a military summons in the days after the coup.
"In three months, the military will have relaxed its grip," he said. "That is when we will move. This won't be quick. It will take a long time."
Both Mr Jakrapob and Mr Sunai say the movement will be based in a neutral country outside Thailand. Mr Jakrapob says the group will not base itself in Cambodia to avoid putting the country in a difficult position.
He says it may be called the Free Thai Movement which was the name of the underground resistance in Thailand to the Japanese occupation during World War Two. Mr Jakrapob said the group had considered and then ruled out the possibility of forming a government in exile.
The military junta has banned meetings of more than five people an at the weekend flooded Bangkok with thousands of troops and policemen. Opposition to the coup has been limited to small flash mob protests which have, for the most part, been peaceful.
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