PEOPLE’S MP Rangsiman Rome who chairs a House committee yesterday (Sep. 2) agreed to coordinate assistance for Mr. Phromsorn Veerathamjari, or “Fahlikit,” who is being detained at Thanyaburi District Prison on charges of violating Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law, after being on a hunger strike since July 1 and stopped drinking water since Aug. 31 in demanding bail, Naewna newspaper said.
The Corrections Department affirmed today that they are taking care of the detainee according to international standards with prison hospital doctors closely monitoring him, and his vital signs are normal, but he was experiencing slight fatigue due to hypoglycemia.
Doctors have administered saline solution and are continuously monitoring his condition. Prison nurses and prison health volunteers have been assigned to closely observe his symptoms. If any changes in his condition occur or if there are medical indications requiring external treatment, this will be immediately carried out in accordance with the doctors’ opinion, the Corrections Department said.
A psychological assessment was conducted, and Phromsorn was found to be in normal mental health, able to communicate and carry out daily activities.
Rangsiman received a complaint from Ms. Kumklao Songsomboon, a lawyer and case manager at the Human Rights Lawyers Centre, requesting an investigation into Thanyaburi District Prison for not transferring Phromsorn to an outside medical facility for treatment.
The detainee had requested legal assistance, having been on a hunger strike since July 1 with this being a peaceful protest demanding the right to bail for political prisoners charged under lese majeste law, who did not benefit from the amnesty law that came into effect on Aug. 24.
Parliament passed this amnesty bill on July 8 benefitting hundreds of activists found guilty over the last 20 years, but not those sentenced for corruption or violating the royal insult law.
The bill covers members of both the conservative, royalist “Yellow Shirts” and the “Red Shirts” who backed populist former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, rival groups who clashed over two decades.
Phromsorn’s hunger strike has lasted over two months, impacting his health, causing weight loss, shortness of breath, and difficulty in walking normally, requiring assistance, Kumklao said.
The lawyer added that she had sent a letter to Thanyaburi District Prison requesting that Phromsorn be transferred from the Correctional Department hospital to another hospital outside the prison with 24-hour medical care and emergency medical equipment to prevent a tragedy similar to that of Ms. Netiporn Sanesangkhom, or Bung, who died in prison after a 110-day hunger strike on May 15, 2024 at the age of 27 in pressing her request for bail.
This had been denied against the world-recognised basis of presumption of innocence for defendants prior to court rulings.
Rangsiman said that this situation is worrying, citing the past case of Netiporn. As chairman of the House Committee on Law, Justice, and Human Rights he said he would discuss this issue with the committee to find a solution.
He noted that the lawyers centre had sent several letters to Thanyaburi prison from July to end of August, but the prison authorities had not yet responded. His committee will therefore follow up and discuss ways to resolve this issue. The main goal is to prevent further loss of life, especially now that the situation has escalated to the point of dehydration, leaving limited time to find a solution.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: People’s MP Rangsiman Rome receiving a request to help Mr. Phromsorn Veerathamjari at Parliament yesterday, Sep. 2.
Insert: Mr. Phromsorn Veerathamjari, aka Fahlikit. Photos – Naewna
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