By Supalak Ganjanakhundee
The Nation
Published on March 9, 2011
The government promised yesterday to multiply its efforts to seek the earliest release of activist Veera Somkwamkid from a Cambodian prison since his health was really in a critical condition, his brother said yesterday.
"The prime minister told us that his government would try its best to help my brother but we didn't ask how and when he would be freed," Preecha said in a phone interview.
The head of Prey Sar prison, however, has denied that Veera is seriously ill.
Preecha and his mother Wilaiwan met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House to seek ways to help the high profile nationalist plus his aide Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who were sentenced to eight and six years, respectively, for spying.
They were arrested on December 29 along with five other Thais including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth near Sa Kaeo's Ban Nong Chan while inspecting a disputed border area.
Preecha visited Veera last week and found his brother's health had deteriorating badly due to many ailments.
"It was obvious that he was very sick and weak," he said.
Abhisit said Veera's health was a priority for authorities to provide assistance to him. "His family did not ask the government to do anything special but we all know what we are doing to help him," Abhisit told reporters.
The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh is seeking permission from Cambodian authorities to send a doctor inside the prison to check Veera's health or bring him out to see the doctor.
However, Mong Kimheng, the chief warden of Prey Sar Prison, said Veera was in a good shape and in good care.
"He just caught a cold these days due to the change in climate, but he is in good health," Mong Kimheng was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
"We have provided him with special care, and our doctor has checked his health twice every day," he said.
"Veera told our doctor that he has some headaches and insomnia," he said. "It is normal that he has a headache and cannot sleep because he sleeps in prison and has to serve many years in prison."
Mong Kimheng said Veera's cell was in good condition. "In other cells, we house six inmates, but Veera's cell, we only allow only two inmates," he said.
"And for food, Thai embassy officials have been bringing it to him twice every day; he does eat food provided by the prison. The information on Veera's illness is just to call for sympathy and to catch special attention from the Thai government in order to seek a royal pardon," he said.
Abhisit informed Veera's relatives in the meeting that Veera and Ratree had already signed petitions for a pardon from the Cambodian king but he did not say if the petitions had been passed to the king.
"The prime minister told us that his government would try its best to help my brother but we didn't ask how and when he would be freed," Preecha said in a phone interview.
The head of Prey Sar prison, however, has denied that Veera is seriously ill.
Preecha and his mother Wilaiwan met Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at Government House to seek ways to help the high profile nationalist plus his aide Ratree Pipattanapaiboon, who were sentenced to eight and six years, respectively, for spying.
They were arrested on December 29 along with five other Thais including Democrat Party MP Panich Vikitsreth near Sa Kaeo's Ban Nong Chan while inspecting a disputed border area.
Preecha visited Veera last week and found his brother's health had deteriorating badly due to many ailments.
"It was obvious that he was very sick and weak," he said.
Abhisit said Veera's health was a priority for authorities to provide assistance to him. "His family did not ask the government to do anything special but we all know what we are doing to help him," Abhisit told reporters.
The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh is seeking permission from Cambodian authorities to send a doctor inside the prison to check Veera's health or bring him out to see the doctor.
However, Mong Kimheng, the chief warden of Prey Sar Prison, said Veera was in a good shape and in good care.
"He just caught a cold these days due to the change in climate, but he is in good health," Mong Kimheng was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency.
"We have provided him with special care, and our doctor has checked his health twice every day," he said.
"Veera told our doctor that he has some headaches and insomnia," he said. "It is normal that he has a headache and cannot sleep because he sleeps in prison and has to serve many years in prison."
Mong Kimheng said Veera's cell was in good condition. "In other cells, we house six inmates, but Veera's cell, we only allow only two inmates," he said.
"And for food, Thai embassy officials have been bringing it to him twice every day; he does eat food provided by the prison. The information on Veera's illness is just to call for sympathy and to catch special attention from the Thai government in order to seek a royal pardon," he said.
Abhisit informed Veera's relatives in the meeting that Veera and Ratree had already signed petitions for a pardon from the Cambodian king but he did not say if the petitions had been passed to the king.
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