22-2-2024 (BANGKOK) Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon, an activist detained on sedition charges following a protest against a royal motorcade, has been admitted to Thammasat University Hospital on the ninth day of her hunger strike. Her colleague from the Thalu Wang protest group, Natthanon “Frank” Chaimahabud, remains in the Department of Corrections Hospital, also on a hunger strike, since their remand in custody on February 14.
The charges against both activists stem from an incident on February 4 during a motorcade carrying Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Natthanon, 23, honked his horn repeatedly and attempted to pass a police car, while Tantawan, 22, argued with an officer when they were stopped.
A few days later, Tantawan organized a public opinion survey about motorcades outside Siam Paragon shopping centre. The event attracted a crowd of royalist protesters who engaged in a brawl with Tantawan’s supporters.
Amid heightened emotions, police arrested Tantawan and Natthanon on February 13. They were denied bail the following day and ordered to be detained pending further police investigations.
Tantawan has outlined three goals for her hunger strike: justice process reform, no imprisonment based on political differences, and rejection of Thailand’s bid for UN Human Rights Council membership from 2025-27.
A lawyer who visited Tantawan described her as weak and tired, reporting symptoms of bloating and fever. Tantawan has vowed to reject all but basic medical treatment and will continue her protest until her demands are met.
Tantawan, along with fellow activist Orawan Phuphong, previously staged a 52-day hunger strike last year demanding the release of 16 people detained during the anti-government protests of mid-2020. She still faces trial on two charges of lese-majeste related to opinion polls conducted on royal motorcades in 2022.
In a related development, activist Netiporn “Bung” Sanesangkhom has been returned to prison after two weeks in the Department of Corrections Hospital, despite experiencing worrying symptoms from her 25-day hunger strike, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
A lawyer who visited Netiporn noted that she had vomited blood multiple times, exhibited jaundice, and appeared extremely fatigued. Netiporn, 28, has been detained since January 26 and is protesting for justice process reform and an end to imprisoning individuals based on political differences.
She was sentenced to one month in the Central Women’s Correctional Institution for contempt of court, stemming from a protest that turned into a scuffle with guards outside the Bangkok South Criminal Court on October 19, 2023. Additionally, she faces a lese-majeste charge under Section 112 of the Criminal Code and had her bail revoked for a separate protest at the Ministry of Culture on August 6, 2023.
According to data from TLHR as of January 31 this year, 1,947 individuals have faced prosecution for political participation and expression since the start of the Free Youth protests in July 2020. Among them, 263 face lese-majeste charges under Section 112, and 147 have been charged with sedition under Section 116.
Currently, 26 people remain in custody in connection with ongoing political cases, as reported by TLHR. In December, nine cases under Section 116 were dismissed by the courts.
