<div><strong>Thailand: Ex-Minister Detained for Rejecting Draft Charter</strong></div> <div><strong>End Military Repression Before August 7 Referendum on Constitution</strong></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>(New York, April 20, 2016) – Thailand’s ruling junta should immediately release a former government minister in military custody for publicly opposing the draft constitution, Human Rights Watch said today. </div>

<div>On 26 March 2016, The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has ordered the military officers to arrest Mr. Worachai Hema, a former MP, at his residence. The officers did not inform his family and relatives of the location where he was held in custody. Col. Winthai Suvaree, the spokesperson of the NCPO, told the media that the detention of Mr. Worachai was a result from Mr. Worachai’s comment that if the current Constitution draft failed to pass the referendum, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha should resign as prime minister to take responsibility, and that the detention was for Mr. </div>