EU urges Thai junta to stop crackdown
Iran Press TV
Fri May 30, 2014 9:33AM GMT
The European Union (EU) has called on Thailand's military junta to free political detainees and end censorship following the recent coup in the country.
"We are following current developments with extreme concern," EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
"We urge the military leadership to free all those who have been detained for political reasons in recent days and to remove censorship," she added.
As a main trade partner of Thailand, the EU also underlined that only a clear plan for the country's return to democracy could allow the bloc's "continuous support."
On May 22, the Thai army seized power following months of anti-government protests and violence in Thailand. The military has taken into custody most of the officials of the previous government, dissolved the Senate and assumed its legislative powers.
The junta on Thursday added about 50 more names to the list of some 250 people they have already summoned. Authorities have also limited civil liberties under martial law and imposed night curfews.
Thailand's military chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha met central and regional officials on the same day to lay out three stages for the country before it could be returned to democratic rule.
According to army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong, the country would remain under "special law" during the first phase and later establish a national assembly and "reform council." Only then would the process of preparing for elections kick off in Thailand, she added.
MR/HJL
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