Thai activist files lawsuit against NCPO

BANGKOK, June 10 (TNA) - A wellknown Thai political activist, Pilot Officer Chalard Worachat, has proceeded with his hunger strike and filed a criminal lawsuit against the army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), including NCPO Chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha and other concerned authorities, for having imposed the martial law and taken over the national administrative power. Chalard and his lawyer filed the lawsuit at Bangkok's Criminal Court on Tuesday, accusing 27 authorities who are members of the NCPO, permanent secretaries of ministries and the Judge Advocate General of insulting the Thai monarchy and insurrection. Chalard claimed that the martial law is normally enforced when there is a war or a violent incident, and that Thailand is to be under the democratic rule. Chalard vowed that he would not report to the NCPO if he was summoned by the coup council, insisting that the NCPO could arrest him in front of the Parliament, where he has staged his hunger strike for 19 days so far. Chalard looked exhausted and needed support from his follower while walking at the court and he answered reporters' questions while sitting on the court's front steps. Doctors checked Chalard twice but he stood firm he would continue with the protest until Thailand's next general election is set. Meanwhile, Thai security authorities have continued searching and cracking down illegal traders and holders of weapons at suspected sites throughout the country, following the coup staged by the NCPO on May 22. Acting National Police Chief Police General Watcharaphon Prasanratchakit told journalists that a cache of illegal weapons seized on June 3 in the Nong Ree locality in Muang District of Chon Buri Province in the Thai East belong to two Chinese men who were arrested by Thai immigration police on June 2. Police General Watcharaphon said that the weapons consist of shotguns, rifles, M79 grenades and over 10,000 bullets of various calibers. According to the acting national police chief, local police have later tracked down other members of the illegal arms ring, including two men, one Thai and one Chinese, in Phitsanolok Province in the Lower Thai North and another Thai man in Ubon Ratchathani Province in the Thai Northeast. The Thai men were found to be responsible for selling weapons to the Chinese men, who then sold them online to their clients in China. The acting national police chief revealed that members of the illegal arms gang, which was found to have no political link, have hidden in Thailand for over a year and most the weapons seized were both licensed and smuggled ones through Thai border areas. (TNA)