A MALE POLITICAL detainee is going to start refraining from sleeping in support of two female activists who are on severe hunger strike to get their demands met, Matichon newspaper said this afternoon (Feb. 6).
The Lawyers for Human Rights Centre said Mr. Sophon “Get” Surarittamrong who is facing charges under Criminal Code Section 112, also known as the lese majeste law, and had his bail revoked after participating in the anti-Apec demonstration last November, will start his protest in jail from 5 a.m. tomorrow.
This is in support of Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanond and Orawan “Bam” Pupong who have still refused to drink water or eat food provided in prison or at the Thammasat Hospital since January 18 to get three demands met.
These demands are as follows:
– Reform the justice system;
– Release political detainees;
– Political parties state a policy to amend sections 112 and 116 of the Criminal Code.
They are now in critical condition at this hospital with this being their 14th day there.
The Lawyers for Human Rights Centre said Sophon had added another demand with this being that detainees released on bail do not get detained again.
Sophon began gradually reducing his sleep time from eight hours to five hours then three . Lawyers who visited him said he seemed foggy and was thinking and responding slower.
Another detainee, only identified as Mr. Jatupol, or Tom, who has been detained for over 200 days and had also started reducing sleep, began suffering from mental fog and exhaustion after sleeping four hours for three days.
The lawyers today also submitted a petition to court for release of nine political detainees but Tantawan, Orawan, Sophon and Ms. Nattanich “Bai Por” Duangmusit were not included in keeping with their wishes.
CAPTIONS:
Sophon Surarittamrong, left, and Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanond and Orawan “Bam” Pupong, right,
Insert: Jatupol, or Tom.
Front Page: The parents of Tantawan and Orawan at the hospital this morning. All photos: Matichon
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