A Thai journalist and three other activists were today arrested and charged under a draconian law for campaigning against a junta-backed draft constitution, the latest in the lead-up to a referendum on the charter next month.
Taweesak Kerdpoka, a reporter with an online news agency, was arrested in Ratchaburi province along with three activists belonging to anti-junta New Democracy Movement.
Two media organisations called on concerned authorities to drop the draconian charges banning criticism of the charter and release the reporter who has been accused of violating the ban on campaigning against the draft charter.
The offence carries a penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.
The Thai Journalists Association [TJA] and Thai Broadcast Journalists Association [TBJA] said in a joint statement that the the reporter was only performing his duty and believed he has done nothing wrong.
The police arrested the reporter who was in a pick up truck with the three activists. The police found some leaflets containing message against the draft.
Taweesak was in the vehicle with the activists only for a ride back to Bangkok, said the news agency's director Chiranuch Premchaiporn.
The latest arrests followed the release last week by a military court of seven activists detained in June for campaigning against the charter.
The charter has been criticized by party leaders on both sides of the political spectrum, as well as by academics and media as it allows for a senate fully appointed by the junta and for a non-elected "outsider" to become prime minister.
The August 7 referendum will be the first time Thais go to the polls since the military coup in May 2014.
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.
Since the 2014 coup, Thailand has witnessed major rights crackdown, with scores of activists jailed.
