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Arrested students to be tried by military court: Thailand PM Prayuth Chan-o-cha

Thailand's Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha on Monday said 14 students, who were arrested last month for staging a rare rally in defiance of the ruling junta's sweeping curbs on civil liberties, will be tried by a military court.

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Thailand's Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha on Monday said 14 students, who were arrested last month for staging a rare rally in defiance of the ruling junta's sweeping curbs on civil liberties, will be tried by a military court.

General Prayut said it had been made clear after the coup what offences would be tried by a military court, adding that violating an order by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) was one of them.

The 14 students were detained last month for staging anti-coup rallies and were in remand after they refused to apply for bail.

The students had made impassioned speeches at a peaceful protest at the Democracy Monument here on June 25 where they also sang songs urging an end to junta rule, cheered on by dozens of supporters.

Political protests are banned under the junta-rule besides any criticism of the military that seized power last year. Earlier on Monday, Deputy Defence Minister Gen Udomdej Sitabutr said that the students had staged a political gathering in violation of the NCPO order.

The government had to enforce the law after fruitless talks and compromising efforts, he said.

"The government holds no hostile attitudes against anyone. We see the students as our children. But, since they had violated the law after repeated warnings, we have to take legal action.

"If we did not do anything, the situation might have escalated into a mass gathering with potential to cause damage to the country," he was quoted by the Nation as saying. The army chief said he believed the majority of people understand the government but they had not come out to clearly say so, unlike those who opposed the government.

He also believed military, police and other security officials could keep the situation under control.

"While the country is moving towards democracy and the prime minister and all military and police personnel are performing their duties to reach that goal as soon as possible, they have been obstructed by some groups of people. "So please don't support wrongdoings. Let's help one another to maintain law and order," he said.

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