The professional membership of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Netiporn “Boong” Sanesangkhom, who died yesterday.
The 28-year-old political activist had started a hunger strike in January after her bail was revoked and she was jailed. She was on trial on seven charges relating to her political activities, including two charges of lèse-majesté. She had stated that her hunger strike was in protest against the lèse-majesté law and the frequent denial of bail to defendants.
Netiporn is the first activist to die in custody since the outbreak of large-scale protests four years ago that included calls for reform of the monarchy. She was one of more than 270 people who have been charged under the controversial Article 112 of the criminal code, under which those judged to have damaged the image of the monarchy have been given prison sentences of up to 50 years.
The lèse-majesté law is a serious infringement of the rights to freedom of expression and free speech enshrined in successive Thai constitutions, preventing Thai people from having open discussions about one of the country’s most important and powerful institutions. The sweeping interpretations Thai courts typically make of what constitutes royal defamation, and the formidable obstacles to mounting a defence of those charged under the law, make it a matter of serious concern for journalists trying to report on Thailand. That a young woman has now lost her life because of this law should be a matter of concern to everybody.
15 May 2024
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