The Thai junta has proposed to turn attitude adjustment sessions into a special course for politicians while the junta leader said that politicians who do not understand the regime should not be politicians.

Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, on Monday, 28 March 2016, told the media at Government House that the so-called attitude adjustment sessions, coercive discussions forced upon political dissidents by the military, will become more standardised.

The junta leader seemed to say that certain people who commit crimes shall face the judicial system while others will be subjected to lectures by the authorities. He also implied that politicians who do not understand the political situation and work of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) should not be politicians.

On the same day, Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Minister of Defence and deputy junta head, said that from now on the NCPO will turn the attitude adjustment sessions into a special course of 3-7 days, adding that the sessions have not been successful because those who underwent the sessions still ‘expressed their thoughts.’  

When asked by the media about Worachai Hema and Watana Muangsook, the two politicians from the Pheu Thai party who were coerced into attitude adjustment sessions over remarks against the junta leader, the Defence Minister said “Well, is it appropriate? They know all too well what they said and we already asked them for cooperation that [they should] first let the NCPO do its work since an election is underway.”

Col Winthai Suwaree, spokesperson for the NCPO, at the same time announced that Watana repeatedly posted comments online to discredit the NCPO.

The NCPO spokesperson added that the politician, who had been repeatedly summoned for attitude adjustment sessions, did not cooperate with the authorities fully despite the fact that the authorities always treated him fairly.

Watana should not attempt to cause misunderstandings about the NCPO and incite conflicts, Col Winthai added.