A group calling itself the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand yesterday called on the Ministry of Justice to stop giving special privileges to jailed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
The group said the ministry was treating Thaksin differently from other prisoners.
If the ministry failed to respond to the demand, it threatened to gather at the Premium Ward on the 14th floor of the Police General Hospital, where Thaksin was said to be staying, to see if he was really there and sick enough to justify being treated there.
Thaksin was admitted to the hospital from Bangkok Remand Prison hours after returning on Aug 22 from 15 years of self-imposed exile.
The group made three demands, which are for Thaksin to return to prison immediately, that there be no extension to his being treated outside prison, and that a human rights organisation be allowed to monitor Thaksin's health and communicate the "truth" to the public, said Pichit Chaimongkol, a group representative.
He said the ministry had failed to convince the public that Thaksin was really sick.
The list of demands was intended for Phongsaward Neelayodhin, permanent secretary for justice.
This move adds to growing calls for the ministry and the hospital to come clean over their handling of Thaksin's supposed serious illnesses.
A photo circulated on social media last week of Thaksin being taken on a gurney for a scan.
Meanwhile, Thaksin's out-of-prison hospitalisation period of 90 days is due to expire tomorrow.
Nazer Yihma, another representative of the group, said if the ministry fails to respond to its call, it will have no choice but to go up to the 14th floor of the hospital to see if Thaksin is really ill or not.
As for the permanent secretary for justice, if she fails to respond to the call, the group will next petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate her for dereliction of duty, he said.
