Panich needed to be hospitalized after his panic roach attack at Prey Sar Hilton?

Panich hospitalised

Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Nation

Ruling Democrat Party's lawmaker Panich Vikitsreth said Monday he would perform his function as the member of parliament until the Constitution Court made any decision on his status which might end by the consequence of Cambodian court's ruling on trespassing case.

"If the hospital allows and my health gets ready, I will join the parliament's session on Tuesday," Panich said in press conference.

Panich needed to be hospitalized after return from Cambodian prison where he was detained during a trail in Phnom Penh for the illegal entry charges.

He was arrested together with six yellow-shirt activists including high profile nationalist Veera Somkwamkid near Sa Kaeo province's Ban Nong Chan while inspecting border disputed areas on December 29.

Five of seven in the group were suspended jail term after a verdict to sentence them 9 months imprisonment and fine one million Cambodian Riel (Bt 7,500).

Article 106 (11) of the Thai Constitution says MP status end as member of parliament was jailed by court's verdict although the jail term was suspended.

The Election Commission would consider Panich's legal status today and would proceed the case to the Constitution Court if the commissioners agreed his MPs position should end.

The Democrat Party argued that Panich's position should not end as the Cambodian court's verdict does not have no legal consequence to Thai politicians.

Panich spent 16 days in notorious Prey Sar prison, outskirts of Phnom Penh. He was infected some diseases from the prison and needed medical treatment until now. He made a press conference at a Bangkok hospital Monday.

Conditions in the Cambodian prison is not good although he and his group got a special treatment from the prison authority. They stayed in a separate small room of 1x4 meters. "They said it is a special room but I saw nothing special, it's just an empty and small room," he said.

Panich and other Thai nationals in the case later obtained food from the Thai Embassy. They ate prison's food, which Panich said was very salty, only the first two days.

"Nevertheless, officials at the prison are kind and friendly," he said but noted that the prison has so strict regulation, not allowed to get information from outside. "My mother sent me a magazine but the prison did not allow," he said.

Panich said the imprisonment was important lesson for his life. "But I have nothing to fear as I perform my duty as an MP," he said.

The lawmaker said he needed to inspect the disputed areas after complaints from local residents of losing their land to a Cambodian community which occupied the areas for more than 30 years.

"I know exactly the areas are under disputes with Cambodia but I have never said, even in the court's testimony, that the land belong to Cambodia," he said.