Thai netizens took to twitter to criticize the detention of a man who was forcefully admitted to a psychiatric hospital for wearing an anti-institution T-shirt and calling for his release.
The hashtag #saveทิวากร was the top trending tag in Thailand in the last 24 hours after photos of Tiwagorn Withiton, 45, remanded in hospital surfaced online.
Tiwakorn is currently remanded by authorities at KhonKaen Rajanagarindra Psychatric Hospital. Thai Enquirer called the hospital and it was confirmed that Tiwakorn is being treated at the hospital, no other information was given.
According local news, he was forcefully admitted to the hospital by local police on July 9, about a month after he posted a photo of himself wearing a T-shirt that violated the country’s lese majeste laws.
The police took him to the hospital and took away his phone, computer and the T-shirt.
Most of the posts with the hashtag were asking for his immediate release, showing concerns for his welfare, and questioning why he was forcefully admitted.
Local news reported that he graduated with an engineering degree and he was one of the Red Shirts protestors during 2009-2010.
After Thai activist Wanchalearm Satsaksit was abducted in Cambodia, Tiwagorn began to advocate for the wearing of the T-shirst via various social media posts which led to his arrest.
His family said he was visited by various authorities since June to ask him not to wear the T-shirt as it could cause conflict within the society.
The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday that they have filed a petition to the Khon Kaen Provincial Court for the release of Tiwagorn as he was unlawfully incarcerated.
The court is now following procedures with witnesses being called in provide their testimony and the court will be given their latest order on Wednesday at 14:00pm.
