Bangkok, July 6 (IANS): Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-Ocha said on Monday that 14 student activists, who were earlier arrested for violating junta orders, will be tried by a military court.

The 14 university students were detained late last month after staging a street rally in Bangkok to protest against the military rule, in defiance of the ban imposed by the coup-making National Council for Peace and Order on political gatherings of more than five people.

They also face sedition charges under Article 116 of the Criminal Code, Xinhua news agency reported.

The authorities needed to uphold such orders as previously issued, with no exceptions allowed, Prayut said, stressing that all members of the society must abide by the law so as to ensure peace and order.

The 12-day detention period for the students will expire on Tuesday and it is not known whether the authorities will ask for extending the detention by 12 more days.