Thailand’s coup leaders have ordered dozens of activists, academics, and journalists to surrender themselves to military authorities.
The order came on Sunday in an effort to squash potential opposition and to muffle the country’s critics.
The coup leaders also warned people against taking part in anti-coup demonstrations.
Thai military has already imprisoned most of the officials of the previous government, dissolved the Senate and assumed its legislative powers.
Tensions deepened in Thailand after the Constitutional Court removed former prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra from office on May 7 for “abusing power.”
Authorities have already detained dozens of politicians and activists, most of them linked to the government recently ousted in the country.
Thai General Prayuth Chan-ocha defended the detentions, saying they would not be held for more than a week and that the measure was allowed by law.
The military is also reportedly holding most of the cabinet positions, saying that it would keep former prime minister and her ministers for up to a week in order to give them “time to think.”
Meanwhile, deputy military spokesman, Colonel Winthai Suvaree, said prosecution will begin on Monday for those who have arrest warrants or face criminal charges. He stressed that the military leaders “urged every group of citizens to avoid joining the anti-coup protests because at the moment, the democratic principles cannot be executed normally.”
Human Rights Watch says the military in Thailand has thrown the country’s rights situation into a free fall.