Pro-democracy activist “Bung” passed away while in the custody of the Department of Corrections

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) urgently calls your attention to the passing of pro-democracy activist and human rights defender, Ms. Natiporn or “Bung” (last name withheld), on the morning of 14 May 2024, while she was in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Her detention stemmed from her conviction on 26 January 2024 for contempt of court by the Bangkok South Criminal Court, where she was sentenced to one month in prison. On the same day, the Court revoked her bail in another lèse-majesté case, in which she conducted a public opinion poll on whether or not the royal motorcades caused inconvenience to the public (the “public opinion poll” case).

On 27 January 2024, Ms. Natiporn announced that she would go on a hunger strike with the following demands: (1) reform of the justice system; and (2) no one should be imprisoned for holding or expressing dissenting opinions.

Prior to her death, Ms. Natiporn had been in detention for 110 days. This is the second time a lèse-majesté defendant has passed away while in detention, following the passing of Mr. Amphon Tangnoppakhun (Uncle SMS) on 8 May 2012.

TLHR calls on you to urge the Thai government and relevant authorities, particularly the Department of Corrections, the Office of the Attorney General, and Royal Thai Police to:

pursuant Sections 148 and 150 of the Criminal Procedure Code, conduct a thorough and comprehensive investigation and post-mortem examination in order to identify the cause and circumstances of her unnatural death while in the custody of the Department of Corrections;
respect, protect, and fulfill the right to bail of political detainees who have not been found guilty of any offenses by a final judgment; and
support the People’s Amnesty Bill that includes lèse-majesté as one of the political offenses for which amnesty shall be granted.

Incidents leading to Ms. Natiporn’s death while in detention

On 26 January 2024, Ms. Natiporn was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to one month in prison for climbing onto the fence surrounding the building of the Bangkok South Criminal Court and communicating with a recently convicted lèse-majesté defendant inside the building. While climbing the fence, Ms. Natiporn and Yok, a youth activist, were intercepted by court authorities and security personnel, who threatened to charge them with contempt of court if they did not stop what they were doing. The Court based its decision on, inter alia, the physical altercation that ensued following the conversation between the pair and the authorities.

On the same day, the Bangkok South Criminal Court revoked Ms. Natiporn’s bail in the “public opinion poll” case. The Court reasoned that Ms. Natiporn violated her bail condition — i.e., that she must not engage in acts that tarnish the monarchy — by spraying paint onto the Queen’s flag on 6 August 2023 at a peaceful demonstration in front of the Ministry of Culture. The Court held that the spray painting tarnished the monarchy.

Between 27 January 2024 and April 2024 — a period of no fewer than 65 days — Ms. Natiporn was on a hunger strike to advocate for the following demands:

reform of the monarchy;
no one should be imprisoned for holding or expressing dissenting opinions.

The timeline of her detention is as follows:

26 January 2024	Detained at the Bangkok Women’s Correctional Institution
27 January 2024	Began hunger strike
6 February 2024	Transferred to the Department of Corrections’ Hospital due to deteriorating health conditions
26 February 2024	Transferred back to the Bangkok Women’s Correctional Institution due to shortage of hospital beds
8 March 2024	Transferred to Thammasat University Hospital due to hypotension
4 April 2024	Transferred to the Department of Corrections’ Hospital
14 May 2024	Transferred to the Thammasat University Hospital, due to cardiac arrest. Ms. Natiporn was later confirmed dead at Thammasat University Hospital.