A 28-year-old activist jailed in Thailand on charges of lese majeste has died after a lengthy hunger strike. Netiporn Sanesangkhom arrived here in late January to protest for the right of political prisoners to be released on bail.
After a 110-day hunger strike, the well-known activist was found unconscious in her prison cell on Tuesday morning, Thammasat University Hospital reported. Attempts were made to revive her while she was still in prison. When this failed, the young Thai woman was admitted to hospital.
The doctors also tried to resuscitate the activist during transport and in the hospital. She was eventually pronounced dead in the morning. An autopsy will now have to clarify the exact cause of death.
No bail granted
As the organization Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported, the 28-year-old was arrested for lese majeste. She was threatened with a long prison sentence. She was denied bail, so Netiporn went on a hunger strike in late January, according to the Thai Enquirer newspaper. She wanted to put pressure on the government to rigorously prosecute people for political statements or meetings.
It was not the prominent activist’s first hunger strike: two years ago, the young woman was arrested and set a good example to other activists. The human rights organization Amnesty International called at the time for the women’s immediate release on bail and adequate medical care in custody.
Source: Krone
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