The Corrections Department claimed that it had taken good care of late political activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, aka “Bung Taluwang”, in line with the principles of human rights and in accordance with the department’s standards, according to Dr. Somphob Sungkutkaew, the department’s inspector-general.
Nonetheless, for the sake of transparency, he said that a fact-finding committee has been set up to investigate Netiporn’s death in custody.
Dr. Somphob then summed up the timeline of treatment provided to the activist during her detention at the Central Women’s Correctional Institution since January 26th, when she began her hunger strike.
She was kept under close watch and, when she experienced fatigue on February 29th, she was sent to the department’s hospital for treatment for eight days. She was then taken toThammasat University hospital for 27 days, from March 8th to April 4th, after which she was returned to the remand prison.
After the treatment, Dr. Somphob said Netiporn could eat just a little and was housed in a ward with the other detainees, among them Tantawan Tuatulanon, adding that her condition then was fine and her blood-sugar level was normal.
On Tuesday morning, at about 6am, Netiporn fell unconscious while in the company of Tantawan, said the doctor, adding that CPR was administered immediately, both on site and in the ambulance, as she was rushed to Thammasat University Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11.22am.
Meanwhile, Dr. Pongpuk Areeyaphinan, director of the department’s hospital, said that Netiporn’s condition was recorded on daily basis and she resumed eating after her discharge from Thammasat University Hospital on April 4th.
He explained that, prolonged hunger strikers, like Netiporn, are given easily digestible food, as her digestive system had to adjust, adding that she was anaemic and medication was administered.
He said doctors at the hospital explained to her the necessity of salt, but she rejected doctor’s recommendation to takevitamins, nutrients and fluids.
Dr. Pongpuk also said that psychologists at the hospital had tried to convince Netiporn, and the other hunger strikers, to change their minds, but to no avail.
As for the actual cause of Netiporn’s death, he said an autopsy will provide the answer.
