Thai activist's demise following 65-day fast in custody leads to demands for criminal justice modifications.
Netiporn "Bung" Sanesangkhom, a 28-year-old activist, has tragically passed away due to a sudden cardiac arrest. The Corrections Department in Thailand released a statement confirming this unfortunate event. Medical professionals attempted to resuscitate her and transported her to Bangkok's Thammasat University Hospital, but it was to no avail - Netiporn didn't respond to treatment.
The Corrections Department will also conduct an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.
Netiporn was an active member of the protest group Thalu Wang, which strives to reform Thailand's powerful monarchy and change its draconian lese majeste law. This law can get you up to a 15-year stay in prison for disrespecting the king, queen, or heir apparent. Their name means "piercing through the palace" and signifies their goal of holding the monarchy accountable. They popularize their cause by conducting public opinion polls that question the royal family's influence.
Netiporn was one of the many young Thais who participated in the national 2020 demonstrations that took place in various cities. The protesters demanded constitutional, democratic, and military reforms, and, for the first time publicly, criticized the monarchy and questioned its authority.
Netiporn has been in custody since January 26 and was awaiting trial as per the statement by a legal advocacy group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.
For approximately two months, she conducted a hunger strike from March 10 to April 23 to protest the unjustifiable imprisonment of political advocates without the option of bail. During this period, her health deteriorated significantly and she was moved back and forth to the prison hospital.
The Thai Corrections Department reported that after Netiporn was transferred back to jail on April 4, she was capable of consuming food and water. However, she seemed weak, her limbs were swollen, and she was anemic. She refused to accept "minerals and anti-anemia supplements," it stated.
Netiporn faced seven criminal charges, two of which were lese majeste. In 2022, she had already spent 94 days in prison and went on a hunger strike before getting released on bail. One lese majeste case against her pertained to a 2022 show where she brandished a placard at a busy shopping center in Bangkok that questioned if the royal procession caused a commotion.
The second lese majeste charge stemmed from a similar 2022 exhibition where she held a card querying if the population agreed that the government permitted the king to use power as he pleased.
In a letter written from prison in March, Netiporn described how growing up as a judge's daughter made her realize that "this country doesn't serve justice for the small people."
She continued, "You don't have to be a judge's daughter to understand the magnitude of the justice system's failures. Their existence isn't for the people; they exist atrociously for the influential and a few groups in the country. By just querying things and honking a car, you end up in prison."
Protests and Demands
Netiporn's death has had a massive impact on the nation and has ignited calls for reforms in the judicial system, which can lead to detainment without bail for a prolonged time period before a trial.
Amnesty International issued a statement saying: "This is a shocking reminder that Thai authorities are ruthlessly depriving pro-democracy advocates of their freedom in an attempt to quell the peaceful public expression of opposition. Many are presently detained, with their right to temporary release on bail denied."
The organization emphasized that this occurrence should serve as a warning to Thai authorities to terminate accusations against and release all human rights activists who remain unjustly detained.
On Tuesday evening, protestors held a memorial with candles outside the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court. Among them was Panusaya "Rung" Sithijirawattanakul, another activist facing lese majeste charges relating to the 2020 demonstrations.
"I'm shocked. I even wonder if it's truly true she died," Panusaya told CNN on Wednesday. "She didn't receive justice for her cases."
Urging the authorities to acknowledge her passing, Panusaya also asked for the release of all political prisoners. "Do we need more deaths before you take notice?"
Approximately 270 people have been arrested for lese majeste offenses, the organization revealed.
"The demise of Ms. Netiporn represents the ongoing issue of political persecution and imprisonment of pro-democracy advocates, particularly in lese majeste instances, under the administration of Pheu Thai," said Akarachai Chaimaneekarakate, the group's advocacy lead.
Netiporn's passing occurs as Thailand seeks a position on the United Nations Human Rights Council and while the Thai government is in negotiations for a free trade deal with the European Union.
"The right to bail should be granted to political prisoners who have not been convicted of any crimes by a definitive verdict," he stated. "The cost of essential liberties should not be their lives."
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The world is deeply saddened by Netiporn's passing, with many calling for justice in Asia.
Netiporn's activism in Asia, particularly in Thailand, has highlighted the need for criminal justice reforms, especially in dealing with political prisoners.
Source: edition.cnn.com
