BANGKOK, 1 July 2015 – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha has revealed he is planning to conduct a dialogue with the student activist group whose members have been arrested for defying the law.
The 14 university students who are members of the Dao Din activist group have been charged with illegal assembly of more than five people in defiance of the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) policy.
The premier said an investigation of the case would be launched to determine whether a peaceful solution can be reached.
When asked whether Article 44 of the constitution could be invoked to release the students, Prime Minister Prayut said the use of Article 44 was unlikely as it would set a precedent for other political groups.
The UN and the European Union earlier urged the government to drop criminal charges against the 14 students; however, the government insisted its action was justified based on one of its orders and the importance of maintaining peace.
