The Thai military detained a northern activist for holding a symbolic political event to condemn the junta's forest policy in the northern province of Chiang Mai. At around 5 pm on Saturday 21st February the military detained Pruet Odochao, a Karen activist from a group called People's Group for Northern Reform, for two hours after he participated in a symbolic political activity of lighting candles in front of the Three Kings Monument in central Chiang Mai. The military officers reportedly searched his belongings and checked his cell phone before releasing him after two hours' detention. Around 30 people joined the event at the square. The event was held after the group held a discussion on human rights, community rights, decentralisation, and other public policies of the new draft constitution on Saturday morning, with the participation of about 120 people from eight northern Thai provinces. Pruet said that he just wanted to urge the junta to solve the problems facing Karen communities in northern Thailand, many of which are affected by the forest protection policies of the junta. In June 2014, the junta's National Council for Peace and Order issued Orders No. 64/2014 and No. 67/2014. While the first order states that the encroachers into protected areas and poachers of forest goods shall face strict legal measures, the latter stipulates that the poor and people who settled in protected areas prior to the enactment of the policies would not be affected. He added that he is now unsure whether he can continue to campaign on the issue after his brief detention.