AFTER social media was abuzz with rumours that detained protest leader Mr. Prit Chivarak, or Penguin, who has been on hunger strike since March 13 after being refused bail, had died, Bangkok Special Prison clarified on its webpage that this is not true, Thai Rath newspaper said today (April 11).
According to social media posts Penguin, who is being held in pretrial detention over charges of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, was woken up in the middle of the night and bashed up by an officer with another person wearing a volunteer’s uniform joining in beating him up.
The punchup was an attempt to force Penguin to eat and not remain the focus of the society’s attention by continuing with his protest fast, the social media posts said, adding that his dead body had signs of strangulation.
However Bangkok Special Prison said these social media rumours are not true with there being nursing staff to take care of inmates 24 hours a day.
The nurse who examined Penguin said he is in general good condition but is mildly fatigued and his lips are dry. The itchy rash on his chest and back has improved. He is able to stand up and walk, also sit up and perform daily activities.
He still refuses to eat and is being given intravenous drip according to the doctor’s prescription. His temperature is 36.1 degrees Celsius, blood pressure 104-63-52, respiratory rate 18 breaths a minute and his weight is 98.5 kilogrammes.
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Top: Penguin in prison. Photo: Thai Rath
Home Page: Penguin giving the three-finger salute through the window of the Corrections Department vehicle. Photo: Mass Communications Authority of Thailand
