THAILAND’S prisons holding democracy activists are driving the country’s rising Covid-19 figures, official records showed today.
The authorities reported over 4,800 infections the largest daily rise with more than half found in two prisons in the capital Bangkok, according to Thailand’s Covid-19 taskforce.
Last month, the Department of Corrections said that only 10 new cases had been found at Bangkok’s remand prison, but the total jumped to 1,794 this week after protest leaders raised concerns.
An activist at the forefront of the country’s democracy movement announced that she had tested positive for coronavirus five days after being released on bail.
Prisoners infected with Covid are pictured in a jail hospital in Bangkok on 8 May in this photograph released by the Thai Department of Corrections. Photograph: AP
Prisoners infected with Covid are pictured in a jail hospital in Bangkok on 8 May in this photograph released by the Thai Department of Corrections. Photograph: AP
AgenceFrance-PresseinBangkok
Thu 13 May 2021 05.50 EDT
Last modified on Fri 14 May 2021 00.25 EDT
Thailand reported its largest one-day rise in coronavirus infections on Thursday, with more than half coming from two Bangkok prisons where prominent democracy activists are being detained.
The kingdom is battling a third wave of the virus that has forced the government to impose restrictions on movement, rules on mask-wearing and close public spaces.
Thursday, 13 May 2021 04:45 PM MYT
A view of Klongprem Central Prison in Bangkok, Thailand May 11, 2021. Authorities reported on May 13, 2021 a cluster of 2,835 Covid-19 cases among prisoners at the prison compound. Reuters pic
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BANGKOK, May 13 Thailand reported its largest ever spike in coronavirus infections today, with more than half coming from two Bangkok prisons where prominent democracy activists have been detained.
The kingdom is battling a third wave of the virus that has forced the government to impose restrictions on movement, rules on mask-wearing and close public spaces.
Published May 13, 2021 5:48pm
A view of Klongprem Central Prison in Bangkok, Thailand May 11, 2021. Authorities reported on May 13, 2021 a cluster of 2,835 coronavirus (COVID-19) cases among prisoners at the prison compound. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/Files BANGKOK Thailand reported its largest ever spike in coronavirus infections Thursday, with more than half coming from two Bangkok prisons where prominent democracy activists have been detained. The kingdom is battling a third wave of the virus that has forced the government to impose restrictions on movement, rules on mask-wearing and close public spaces. Alarm bells sounded this week when an activist at the forefront of Thailand s democracy movement announced she had tested positive for COVID-19 five days after she was released on bail from a Bangkok jail.
BenarNews
A Thai court on Tuesday freed on bail two Thai pro-democracy activists charged with royal defamation, including Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, who has been on a weeks-long hunger strike to protest being denied bail 10 times since his February arrest.
The court also released Chaiamorn “Ammy” Kaewwiboonpan, who was arrested in March for allegedly burning a portrait of King Maha Vajiralongkorn in front of a jail during an anti-government protest. A bail hearing for a third activist, Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, also charged with defaming the monarchy, was delayed as they were waiting for results of his COVID-19 test, authorities said.
“The court examined the evidence at the hearing for a temporary release of Parit and Chaiamorn and considered that the circumstances of the cases have changed. Therefore, the court granted a temporary release of Parit and Chaiamorn,” the Criminal Court in Bangkok said in a statement, without elaborating on how the situation