Two ailing activists on hunger strike since last month yesterday demanded the release of all political prisoners within three days or they will refuse medical treatment and leave hospital.
Krisadang Nutcharus, a lawyer with the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group, said they asked him to continue submitting bail applications for the release of all political detainees.
“If the court fails to do so in three days, they will refuse treatment and leave hospital,” Mr Krisadang said.
They insist on continuing their hunger strike and fighting on their own terms, he said.
The Criminal Court on Tuesday approved a bail application submitted by the director of Thammasat University Hospital for the activists after they showed extremely high levels of ketone, which doctors said posed a threat to their lives.
However, they refused to sign an acknowledgment of the court’s bail approval after bail requests for eight other political detainees were refused.
A third hunger striker’s application for bail was rejected by the Appeal Court.
Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon and Orawan “Bam” Phuphong declined to sign the release papers.
They said they were not aware of any such move by the hospital or of the court’s decision, and were determined to continue their fast until all political detainees were released on bail, according to comments relayed by Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
But the group also said their lawyer told them on Tuesday that the director of Thammasat University Hospital had submitted the application to the Criminal Court and the Bangkok South Criminal Court for their release because they were in critical condition.
The lawyer also told them about the court’s rejection of bail for the eight detainees whose release was demanded by Ms Tantawan and Ms Orawan when they began their hunger strike.
The Appeal Court rejected a bail application by Sitthichok Sethasavet, who is also being treated at Thammasat University Hospital. He has been convicted of lese majeste and other charges that he denies and is appealing.
Ms Tantawan, 21, and Ms Orawan, 23, are facing royal defamation charges under Section 112 of the Criminal Code for conducting a public survey last year about royal motorcades.
They went to court on Jan 16 and requested the revocation of their bail to show solidarity with other detainees. They began their hunger strike two days later while in custody.