This Thai Activist Who Was Jailed For Insulting The Monarchy Has Died In Prison After She Went On A Hunger Strike For Months
28-year-old Netiporn Sanesangkhom, also known as "Bung," was jailed for conducting public polls asking people’s opinions about the Thai royal family.
This Thai activist who was jailed for insulting the monarchy has died in prison after she went on a hunger strike for months.
28-year-old Netiporn Sanesangkhom, also known as “Bung,” died on Tuesday, May 14, while in prison awaiting trial.
Bung had been jailed since January 26 after she was charged for conducting public polls asking people’s opinions about the royal family.
In Thailand, it is illegal to insult, defame or threaten the king, the queen and other members of the royal family under the lèse-majesté law, which carries a sentence of three to 15 years.
Bung belonged to a small anti-monarchy group that organized activities to demand changes to the lèse-majesté law.
The day after she was sentenced, she started abstaining from food, water and medication for 65 days to call for Thailand to free other detained political activists.
She started to eat and drink in April, but still refused medication and on Tuesday April 14, Thai authorities said Bung’s “heart stopped suddenly” .
She appears to be the first political activist in Thailand to have died after carrying out a partial hunger strike, according to AP.
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