Thai Activist, 28, Dies After Hunger Strike in Detention
By Caroline Ameh
Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom, a prominent Thai activist detained since January on charges including insulting the monarchy, has passed away in detention following a prolonged hunger strike.
Officials confirmed that the 28-year-old activist’s heart “stopped suddenly” on Tuesday morning, marking the end of her courageous protest.
Sanesangkhom, associated with a youth movement advocating for reforms within the monarchy, commenced her hunger strike a day after her detention in January.
Her demands included changes to Thailand’s justice system, particularly the controversial lese majeste law, which criminalizes criticism of the royal family.
Despite facing multiple charges, including contempt of court and lese-majeste offenses, Sanesangkhom persisted in her hunger strike, accepting only water intermittently from late February and resuming food intake in April.
Her detention, initially stemming from a contempt of court charge, was extended following the revocation of bail in a separate lese-majeste case.
Sanesangkhom’s activism centered on engaging the public in discussions about the disruptions caused by royal motorcades, leading to her facing severe penalties of up to 15 years in prison for each charge.
Thailand’s strict lese-majeste laws have drawn international scrutiny, with approximately 260 charges filed under the law since 2020 alone. Earlier this year, the imposition of a 50-year jail term under the law marked a record sentence.
Sanesangkhom’s hunger strike was not unprecedented; in 2022, she and a fellow activist staged a 64-day hunger strike, resulting in their release from prison. However, the exact duration of her recent hunger strike remains unclear, with reports indicating a decline in her health prompting her transfer to a prison hospital.
Despite efforts to provide medical intervention, Sanesangkhom’s condition deteriorated, exacerbated by her refusal of vitamins and electrolytes. Despite the medical team’s prolonged attempts at resuscitation, she was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.
Thai MP Rukchanok Srinork, from the reformist Move Forward Party, lamented Sanesangkhom’s passing and highlighted the plight of other detained activists currently on hunger strike, urging for accountability and justice in the wake of such tragedies.
