The Thai authorities contacted a family of an anti-junta activist in northern Thailand after his activist group urged the junta to step down when the 2015 charter draft was rejected.   

Pongnarin Nonkam, a member of New Democracy Movement (NDM), a well known anti-junta activist group, who is a law student from Ramkhamhaeng University, told Prachatai that on Monday afternoon, 7 September 2015, the Thai authorities contacted his parents and asked about his and his family’s personal details.

He mentioned that the District Chief of Pan District of the northern province of Chiang Rai contacted his family through a local village chief, asking his parents about his activities.

“The officer asked my parents about my activities and told my parents that they should have stopped me from participating in anti-junta events,” said Pongnarin. “I and my family felt uncomfortable and pressured, but we are getting more familiar with these measures for it is not the first time.”

He added that he also received a phone call from a police officer which he recognised, but he did not pick up the phone.   

The pro-democracy student activist reported that in March 2015 the officers from the Special Branch Police (SBP), a police unit which is responsible for maintaining public order, came to visit his family once.

On Sunday, 6 September 2015, Pongnarin represented the NDM at the group’s press briefing at Thammasat University, Tha Prachan Campus, Bangkok, which was held after the National Reform Council (NRC) rejected the 2015 constitution draft.

He stated during the briefing that since the beginning from the process of drafting the charter until the NRC’s vote to reject the draft on Sunday, the junta was only putting up a show to convince people that it maintains the rule of law, but the regime’s intention is only to maintain power.

“[We] don’t accept the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) attempt to maintain its power and urge the NCPO to show its responsibility for failing to govern the country in every dimensions. Otherwise, the NDM will continue to struggle against the regime,” Pongnarin read the group’s statement on Sunday.

Since the 2014 Coup d’état, many pro-democracy activists, academics, and politicians have been summoned are repeatedly and contacted by the Thai authorities.

In March 2015, in a bid to stop the political activities of student activists most of whom are members of the NDM, military officers intimidated 17 student activists by paying visits to their homes, dorms, and parent’s homes.