(VOVworld) – Jarupong Ruangsuwan, former Chairman of the Puea Thai Party, announced on Tuesday that he intends to establish an opposition group to the Thai junta.

Thailand has been under military rule since the 22 May coup, but leaders have promised a return to democracy.

In a statement to mark the establishment of “The Organisation of Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy” (FT-HD), Charupong publicly criticised the military coup on May 22. Charupong also accused the junta of “violating law, abusing democratic principles, and tramping on the interests, freedom, and human dignity of the Thai people”. He said that the opposition group would fight to restore democracy and was against any actions by the junta that could sabotage the Thai political system and people’s interests. Jakrapob Penkair, the group’s spokesperson, reiterated that the group’s guiding principle was to protest the coup by non-violent struggle, adding that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had not joined the group yet.