The Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand gathered today in front of the Police General Hospital, demanding that doctors reveal Thaksin Shinawatra’s actual medical condition.

Police prevented them from entering hospital premises. Phichit Chaimongkhon, the group’s leader, said they want to know whether Thaksin is fir enough to leave hospital.

Phichit said he believes Thaksin feigned his sickness to avoid imprisonment. The gathering occurred one day after it was confirmed that Thaksin would be freed on parole, due to his age and illness.

He claims that Thaksin had been receiving VVIP treatment from authorities, including facilitating his stay in Police General Hospital for nearly six months.

Thaksin was convicted in August last year on corruption charges, but instead of staying in jail, he was transferred to the hospital, claiming serious illness and the need for professional medical treatment, which was unavailable at the Corrections Hospital.

He is scheduled to be released from the hospital and incarceration on parole this weekend.

Phichit argued that staying on the hospital’s 14th floor should not be considered being in prison, as ordered by the Court. He also said that he plans to give CCTV cameras to the hospital.

The group had earlier demanded that the hospital check the CCTV, to confirm that Thaksin was really staying in the hospital, but they were informed that all the hospital’s CCTV cameras were out of order.