Thai student activists to be tried by military court: PM

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha said Monday that 14 student activists, who were earlier arrested for violating junta orders, would be tried by a military court.

The 14 university students were detained late last month after staging a street rally in Bangkok to protest against the military rule, in defiance of the ban of the coup-making National Council for Peace and Order on political gatherings of more than five people.

They also face sedition charges under Article 116 of the Criminal Code.

The authorities need to uphold such orders as previously issued, with no exceptions allowed, Prayut said, stressing that all members of the society must abide by the law so as to ensure peace and order.

The 12-day detention period for the students will expire Tuesday and it remains unknown whether the authorities will ask for extending the detention by 12 more days. Enditem