'Penguin' vows hunger strike

Arrested anti-government protester Parit
Arrested anti-government protester Parit "Penguin" Chiwarak shows a three-finger salute upon arrival at the Criminal Court in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo by Varuth Hirunyatheb)

Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak said he will be on a hunger strike until all people accused of royal insult and other political charges are allowed bail.

The court meeting on Monday was for two cases involving the demonstration on Sept 19-20 last year at Sanam Luang.

Of the 22 defendants, nine have already been detained. Seven of the detainees were charged with lese majeste and their bail requests have been repeatedly denied.

Around 50-60 people, including staff from embassies and international organisations, observed the meeting.

Mr Parit read a statement he had prepared, which in part criticised court roles in the conflict.

The judge interrupted him and suspended the meeting.

Mr Parit then stood on a chair and continued to read his statement, saying he would be on a hunger strike and would consume only water, sweet drinks and milk.

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Vocabulary

  • bail: money that is given to a court when someone is allowed to stay out of prison until their trial. If they do not return for the trial, the court keeps the money  - เงินประกัน; การประกันตัว
  • criticise: to say that you disapprove of somebody/something; to say what you do not like or think is wrong about somebody/something - วิจารณ์, ติเตียน,จับผิด
  • defendants (nloun): people who have been accused of a crime and are on trial - จำเลย
  • demonstration: an occasion when a group of people gather together to support or protest about something - การชุมนุม
  • denied: a refusal to allow somebody to have something - ปฎิเสธ, ไม่ยอมรับ
  • detained: kept in a place and not allowed to leave - กักตัว ควบคุมตัวหรือฝากขัง
  • detainee: someone who is kept in prison - ผู้ที่ถูกกักขัง คุมขัง
  • hunger strike: a refusal to eat by a person or group of people until a demand is met - การอดอาหารประท้วง
  • interrupt: to say or do something that makes somebody stop what they are saying or doing - ขัดจังหว
  • lese majeste: the crime of offending, threatening or showing disrespect for a member of the royal family - หมิ่นพระบรมเดชานุภาพ
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