13-1-2024 (BANGKOK) A protest group has initiated a campaign to gather signatures, urging the Supreme Court to investigate the delayed response of the national anti-graft agency concerning the extended hospital stay of convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Phichit Chaimongkol, leader of the Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand, stated that the group aims to collect 20,000 signatures in support of their petition to scrutinize the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) handling of the matter.
The petition, which requests the Supreme Court to establish an independent panel, will be submitted to the president of the Supreme Court through the House Speaker, according to Mr. Phichit.
He added that the group intends to seek a progress report from the NACC on Tuesday. The commission has been urged to investigate officials at the Department of Corrections and Police General Hospital for alleged malfeasance.
This week, the Department of Corrections broke its silence, asserting that Thaksin, aged 74, requires continuous monitoring and care beyond what can be provided at a prison hospital, following doctors’ advice.
Expressing skepticism about Thaksin’s reported serious illness, Mr. Phichit warned that if officials fail to clarify Thaksin’s treatment, the group may escalate their protests. Demonstrators gathered at Government House on Friday to protest Thaksin’s prolonged hospital stay, planning to remain until Saturday evening.
Former Democrat Party MP Watchara Phetthong announced his intention to request the NACC to investigate the corrections director-general for allegedly failing to comply with department regulations by permitting Thaksin’s extended hospital stay.
Thaksin was admitted to Police General Hospital about 13 hours after being sent to Bangkok Remand Prison upon his return from 15 years of self-imposed exile on Aug 22 last year. Initially sentenced to eight years in prison, later commuted to one year under a royal pardon, for conflict of interest and abuse of power while in office prior to 2006.
Despite a visit by members of the House committee on police affairs to Police General Hospital on Friday, they were not granted access to Thaksin. On Feb 22, Thaksin will have served half of his sentence and become eligible for release on parole.
