Prayuth Chan-ocha lashes out at reporters, urging them to write in a way that bolsters national reconciliation.
Thailand's military leader has lashed out at journalists saying he would "probably just execute" those who did "not report the truth", in the latest outburst aimed at Thailand's media.
"We'll probably just execute them," Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Wednesday, when asked by reporters how the government would deal with those that do not adhere to the official line.
Last month Prayuth said he had the power to shut down news outlets.
Prayuth, who is also prime minister, heads the ruling military junta or National Council for Peace and Order. He toppled the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in a coup last May, that followed months of protests aimed at ousting Yingluck.
Prayuth launched a crackdown on dissenters after seizing power in May. He has said Thailand is not ready to lift martial law, which gives the army sweeping powers, including for arrest and detention.
Bob Dietz, coordinator of the Committee to Protect Journalists' Asia Programme, condemned Prayuth's statement saying, the Thai leader "is being more than just gruff here, it's a threat".
"He is notoriously hot-headed, and prone to outbursts like this," Dietz said in a comment to Al Jazeera.
"Last September he announced a one-year plan to overcome the deep political fault lines in Thailand. So far the plan seems to just be to tell everyone to just be quiet and stop being critical of the government and each other."