The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has warned agencies working in the justice system to be impartial or risk hindering ongoing national reconciliation efforts.
The NCPO told authorities including the police to avoid taking action that could cause public misunderstanding or aggravate social conflicts, in its 63rd announcement issued yesterday.
The NCPO did not specify how law enforcement activity could cause the public to doubt the even-handedness of agencies working in justice affairs, but said some legal action taken in recent months had led to misunderstandings and accusations of discrimination against certain groups of people.
The announcement emphasised the need for agencies in the justice system to be unbiased and resist resorting to double standards, since the public deserves fair and equal treatment under the law.
Agencies implicated in the announcement include the National Anti-Corruption Commission, the Royal Thai Police Office and the Department of Special Investigation.
All were told to avoid enforcing the law in a way that deepens social divides and pushes people of different beliefs and ideologies further apart.