Sawatree Suksri, a law lecturer from Thammasat University and a member of the Nitirat (Enlightened Jurists) group, was arrested at the airport on Saturday after she travelled back from the United States on a US embassy study trip on human rights.
She was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport around 12.30 p.m., shortly after she landed. The Immigration Office detained her while coordinating with the army to take her away.
A person close to Sawatree said she travelled to the US before the coup took place on May 22 and planned to report to the military after her return. Sawatree had already informed the University about her intention to report to the military on Monday, June 9.
Sawatree was on the May 23 summons list together with Assoc. Prof. Worachet Pakeerut, also a member of the Nitirat group, and Dr. Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a history lecturer from Thammasat University known for his criticism of the monarchy and lèse majesté law.
Worachet and Somsak have not reported themselves to the military.
Nitirat is a group of seven law scholars from Thammasat University. In the past, the group has proposed an amendment of the lèse majesté law in line with human rights principles as well as a draft amnesty bill for political prisoners.
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