AS it was feared that detained protest leader Mr. Prit Chivarak, or Penguin, who has been on hunger strike since March 16 in order to be bailed out might go into shock, the Correction Department today (April 30) transferred him to Ramathibodi Hospital for treatment, Siam Rath newspaper said.
The department’s Deputy Director-General and spokesman Mr. Thawatchai Chaiwat said Penguin’s weight had dropped from 107 kilogrammes to 94.5, and although previously there were no symptoms that his condition had reached a critical stage, the lengthy fast meant he was unable to recover on his own.
Today he started drinking less mineral water while saline drip had to be removed because of pain at the IV points. The doctors and nurses were concerned he could go into shock and concluded he should be admitted to a hospital outside the prison to receive treatment from specialists.
He was then sent to Ramathibodi Hospital under strict supervision of correctional officers. Once his symptoms improve he will be transferred to the Correctional Department hospital.
Meanwhile the Criminal Court today scheduled a hearing on another bail request filed by the mothers of Penguin and Ms. Panusaya Sitthichirawattanakul, or Rung, for May 6 at 10 a.m.
Both of them are facing charges of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, known as the lese majeste law, and have been on a hunger strike in order to be allowed to be bailed out.
Both the mothers pledged to place 200,000 baht each as bail should the court grant temporary release.
The court also ordered that defendants number one to five too be brought to court for questioning on that day.
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Top: Penguin and Rung in prison. Photo: Siam Rath
Home Page: Penguin giving the three-finger salute. Photo: Siam Rath
