Somkiat Pongpaiboon, one of the leaders of the now-defunct People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), is in critical condition and on life support after suffering a stroke, a former PAD member said on Sunday.
Suriyasai Katasila posted on his Facebook account that Mr Somkiat's condition was extremely serious. Although he could make slight movements with some parts of his body, he still needed life support, he said.
Mr Suriyasai updated the health condition of Mr Somkiat, 71, after he and several other former PAD members visited Mr Somkiat at Bangkok Hospital Ratchasima in Nakhon Ratchasima on Sunday. His post was aimed at ending earlier reports that Mr Somkiat had already died.
Confusion arose following a post on the Facebook page of his daughter, Reddy Paradonparp Likhitteerawut.
"In peace. Thank you for giving me my life," she wrote. "Father is still in sleep, but clinically the doctors said he would never wake up. He had asked that his body be donated to Khon Kaen Hospital. I won't try to prolong his life. No surgical operations. I don't want him to hurt. The last thing I saw was him going to sleep.
"My father had gone through everything...prison..bombs..travel...friends. Wish you peaceful dreams."
Somkiat was born on Jan 12, 1950 in Dan Khun Thot district, Nakhon Ratchasima. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in education, majoring in Thai language-history, from Srinakharinwirot University and a master's degree in education from Khon Kaen University.
He was a lecturer at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajabhat University.
Somkiat was also a Democrat Party MP from 2007-2011.
He was a key PAD leader, along with Sonthi Limthongkul, Somsak Kosaisuk, Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Bhipop Dhongchai.