Thailand's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has not allowed politicians to travel abroad to visit former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to the Bangkok Post on July 22.

After the coup in May 2014, the military government applied "iron discipline" to stabilize security and order.

Thai army commander General Udomdej Sitabutr has just confirmed this in response to information that Pheu Thai Party lawmakers are trying to travel abroad to celebrate former Prime Minister Thaksin's 66th birthday next Sunday.

“Those who want to go abroad must state where they are going and clearly explain the reason for their travel. We do not allow them because their trips could cause ‘disruption’ later. It is clearly wrong to go abroad to plot to sabotage the work of the government. I am responsible for national security, and I will not let that happen,” Udomdej said.

Most of the former ministers and former lawmakers from the Pheu Thai Party who have been summoned to work with the government will not be allowed to travel abroad without permission, a source from the Pheu Thai Party said.

Former deputy prime minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said the ban violated his basic human right to freedom of movement. “I just wanted to meet Thaksin and wish him a happy birthday, why not allow it? We did nothing wrong,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Criminal Court has just agreed to allow scholar Worachet Pakeerut, a key member of the Nitirat opposition group at Thammasat University, to go to Germany to attend a short-term course.

It is known that Mr. Thaksin is in Singapore. Several former lawmakers (who are not under military surveillance) visited and wished him a happy birthday earlier this month. Tomorrow, Mr. Thaksin will fly to Dubai and celebrate his birthday there.

(According to TNO)