THE LAWYER for woman activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom who died while holding a hunger strike during detention at a Bangkok prison said he suspects someone powerful has ordered the Corrections Department to not hand over video clips on her medical treatment at prison hospital prior to her death, Amarin TV said today (May 24).
Mr. Kritsadang Nutjarat, president of Lawyers for Human Rights Centre, said the Corrections Department gave three reasons for not handing over the footage, that is the video clips contain images of officials and employees so it is feared they would be affected; the Corrections Department hospital is a “prison” and releasing them may undermine security; and fear of damage to the deceased woman.
The Corrections Department said a letter had been sent to Netiporn’s parents that if they want to watch these video clips they should contact them later but her parents have not received this letter, he added.
After getting a report on Netiporn’s medical treatment at the Corrections Department hospital five days before she passed away, Kritsadang had set a four-day deadline for the department to hand over the video clips.
“I am still shocked that I did not get the surveillance camera clips today, I thought they were pixelating the faces of unrelated people and would hand them over as agreed,” he said.
The 27-year-old woman detainee who had been charged with violating the draconian lese majeste law, also known as Section 112 of the Criminal Code, staged the fatal hunger strike in protest of her having been denied bail for 110 days till her death.
The department is afraid that he would release the video clips to the media but he would not do so, he insisted, adding that he was also told to petition the Office of the Official Information Commission or file a case at the Administrative Court if he wanted them.
Kristsadang said he wanted to ascertain what happened prior to his client’s death, was CPR performed, X-rays taken, CT scan done and whether she received standard treatment.
The report from Thammasat Chalerm Phra Kiat Hospital where Netiporn was rushed to on May 14 and pronounced dead is complete enough to reveal where she died.
Aside from incorrectly inserting a breathing tube down her oesophagus there are other issues to verify and after gathering information he will be moving ahead, he added.
Kritsadang also mentioned that he learned the order to not reveal the CCTV footage was issued by someone more powerful than those in charge of the Corrections Department.
In fact Justice Minister Thawee Sodwong said when he attended Netiporn’s funeral that there would be no problem in providing information and Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin too has ordered that this matter be handled transparently.
This has led to Kritsadang wondering whether there is someone more powerful than the Prime Minister but pointing out this matter cannot be swept under the carpet.
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Lawyer Kritsadang Nutjarat talking to the press today, May 24, 2024. Photo: Amarin TV
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