Thai democracy protester on IV drip after hunger strike

ONE of the leaders of Thailand’s pro-democracy movement is being administered an intravenous fluid drip in prison after officers said they found him weakened because of a hunger strike that has lasted more than two weeks.

Parit Chiwarak, 22, was charged in February with sedition and defaming the monarchy for his role in leading demonstrations. Parit’s lawyer requested bail for him and three others, but the court denied it. Corrections officials at Pathumthani Detention Centre north of Bangkok started giving

Parit intravenous fluids last Saturday, a spokesperson from the Department of Corrections said.

Parit was one of several leaders behind the protest movement that has campaigned since last year for Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha and his government to step down. They want the constitution amended to make it more democratic and for the monarchy to be reformed to make it more accountable.

According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, Parit faces at least 20 charges related to defaming the monarchy.