Netiporn Sanesangkhom, a 28-year-old Thai activist and member of the activist group Thaluwang, died in a prison hospital following a hunger strike. Thaluwang is known for campaigns demanding monarchy reform and the abolition of the law that makes it illegal to defame members of the royal family. Netiporn’s death is the first known instance of a political activist in Thailand dying during a hunger strike. The royal institution, until recent years, was considered a bedrock of Thai nationalism, with criticism of the monarchy being taboo. Student-led pro-democracy protests beginning in 2020 openly criticized the monarchy, leading to vigorous prosecutions under the lese majeste law.
Netiporn was one of over 270 activists charged with Thailand’s royal defamation law following the protests in 2020-21. She had two charges of lese majeste pending against her, involving conducting polls about the royal family. Her release on bail was revoked in January due to her participation in a political rally. Netiporn started her hunger strike after being detained in January, despite previous reports that she had started eating and drinking water again after April 4. Two fellow jailed activists are also carrying out hunger strikes in solidarity with her. Thaluwang has made high-profile protests calling for reform of the monarchy, changes in the justice system, and an end to political persecution through the courts.
Critics say that the lese majeste law is often used as a tool to silence political dissent in Thailand. Human Rights Watch has raised concerns over the government’s use of arbitrary arrest and pretrial detention to punish critics of the monarchy, violating their rights under international human rights law. Following the fade of the protest movement due to government harassment and the pandemic, Netiporn’s lawyers had applied to transfer her to a hospital for treatment, but their request was denied. Thaluwang has also called for the rejection of Thailand’s application to join the U.N. Human Rights Council, arguing that the country’s reality of law enforcement contradicts its ambition to be recognized as a human rights defender.
The prime minister’s move to outlaw marijuana two years after its decriminalization highlights ongoing issues with human rights and freedom of expression in Thailand. Netiporn’s death raises questions about the standard treatment of political activists within the Thai justice system. Despite calls for reform and an end to political persecution, the current government is seeking a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council for the 2025-2027 term. However, critics argue that the government’s actions, including the use of arbitrary arrest and pretrial detention, contradict its commitment to protecting human rights. Netiporn’s death serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by activists in Thailand advocating for democracy, freedom of expression, and reforms to the monarchy.
