The Immigration Bureau (IB) has denied it furnished a watchlist targeting opposition politicians and government critics as accused by the Move Forward Party (MFP).
The list, which supposedly contains 183 individuals and 19 social media accounts critical of the government, was reported to be a national security document.
The name of a female police lieutenant colonel attached to the IB was printed on the leaked document, suggesting she was responsible for drawing up the watchlist. The paper also had "classified" stamped on it.
IB deputy spokesman Cheongron Rimpadee said on Tuesday checks confirmed neither the bureau nor the female police officer produced the document.
People on the immigration watch list are persons declared by the IM law as persona non grata who are foreign nationals who have served a jail term in Thailand or overseas. They also include those attempting to enter Thailand, who have been issued arrest warrants in other countries.
The individuals are denied entry by the IB which also looks out for those facing arrest warrants issued by a Thai court. They will be arrested if they try to enter or leave the country.
Arrest warrants released in connection to 1,923 cases under various laws are compiled in the IB data system.
Pol Col Choengron said that unless a person faces an arrest warrant or is barred by the court from leaving the country, they should not be bothered by a IB watch list.
He insisted many political activists have travelled freely into and out of the country and they were not subject to arrest.
His explanation was made in response to Move Forward Party (MFP) secretary-general Chaithawat Tulathon who said during a press briefing on Tuesday that he believed the watch list document was genuine.
The list, he said, included names of activists, public figures critical of the government, artists, lawyers and those calling for reform of the monarchy. Most of them are 30 years old or younger with at least two minors.
He added eight politicians were also being watched by the IB, seven of them MFP members as well as Progressive Movement leaders Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul and Pannika Wanich.
Mr Chaithawat claimed Mr Piyabutr recently had trouble checking in for his flight at Suvarnabhumi airport and the matter was resolved after he explained to the IB that he was not wanted on an arrest warrant or facing a travel ban.
Mr Piyabutr was heading overseas to reunite with his wife
