THE human rights lawyer representing detained protest leader Mr. Parit Chivarak, or Penguin, who was transferred to Ramathibodi Hospital for treatment yesterday after his condition deteriorated as a result of an over a month long hunger strike for not being granted bail is hopeful his mother and other relatives would be allowed to visit him there, Sanook.com quoted INN News as saying today (May 1)
Mr. Krisada Nuttajarat, a lawyer at the Lawyers for Human Rights Centre, said his family did meet him at Bangkok Remand Prison before his transfer to this hospital as the Corrections Department had to ask them whether they agreed to this move and they welcomed it.
Krisada added that he had asked the court to allow Penguin to be sent for treatment outside the prison but this was not permitted. That this has been done is through the powers under the Corrections Act.
Penguin’s family had contacted the Corrections Department officials to visit him in the hospital but so far this has not been allowed.
Krisada said it is up to the officials whether they allow a visit or not but he believed they would permit it as it would be similar to visiting him in prison with all the rules still applying as only the location had been switched from the prison to hospital.
Both Penguin and Ms. Panusaya Sitthichirawattanakul, or Rung, 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 granted bail.
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Top: Penguin giving the three-finger salute recently. Photos: Thai Rath
Home Page: Penguin giving the three-finger salute through the window of the Corrections Department vehicle. Photo: Mass Communications Authority of Thailand
