A military member of the National Reform Council (NRC) on Tuesday claimed that a foreign organisation encouraged the 14 arrested student activists to rally against the May 22 coup.
Gen Thawatchai Samutsakhon
Reform councillor Thawatchai Samutsakhon said at the parliament that he knew one of the 14 student activists of the New Democracy Movement group, a native of the northeastern province of Surin, and had talked with the father when he visited the youth in prison.
He quoted the parent as saying he was concerned about his son and did not want young people to get involved with politics.
However, an ill-intentioned foreign organisation had encouraged students at Khon Kaen University to join anti-coup movements, and the student had done so last month, said Gen Thawatchai, former chief of the 2nd Army supervising the Northeast.
The organisation's representative had talked with the man's son for two nights over a month ago, Gen Thawatchai said.
He did not name the student or the foreign organisation, but said the movements started in Khon Kaen were expanding to other notheastern provinces, including Surin.
The 14 student activists were arrested in Bangkok on June 26 after repeatedly defying warnings against political gatherings. The military court agreed on Monday to release them from detention, after the first period of 12-days detention expired at midnight of Monday, by rejecting a request for an extension made by military police. The students could still face trial in a military court if military prosecuters decide to arraign them.
Pakorn Sritanawut, 43, father of Panupong Sritanawut, the youngest member of the student activist group, later denied the claim and said he never met or knew the senior retired officer.
"I need to deny the allegation that smears our family and the student group since I'm the only one from Surin. I never said anything like that," said Mr Pakorn.
He noted that he didn't think his son or other students were brainwashed, instigated or hired to speak up against the junta.