A group of pro-democracy activists rallied in front of the Thai Supreme Court in Bangkok this morning (Monday), to demand the release of two anti-establishment activists who have been on hunger strike since June 2nd in protest against their pre-trial detention.
The demonstrators, representing civic groups and led by national artist Suchart Sawasdsri, submitted a letter, signed by 13,839 people, via the Change.org website under the “Free Our Friends 2022” campaign and addressed to the president of the Supreme Court, demanding the release of the two hunger strikers, Netiporn Sanesangkhom, 26, and Nutthanit Duangmusit, 20, both members of the Thalu Wang group seeking reform of the monarchy.
The two were sent to the Central Women’s Correctional Institute to be held on remand after the Criminal Court revoked their bail on May 3rd. They are facing lèse majesté charges for conducting an opinion poll about royal motorcades.
In the letter, it was stated that the two hunger strikers have been in poor health since they began their hunger strike on June 2nd, with Netiporn having lost about 15kgs and Nutthanit 7kgs.
It also claimed that this is the longest hunger strike since the coup in 2014.
On July 19th, Human Rights Watch issued a statement calling for the release of the two hunger strikers.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), more than 200 people have been charged and detained in Thailand on lèse majesté charges between November 2020 and June this year.
