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  • Writer's pictureManushya Foundation
    • Aug 24, 2023

#BreakingNews: In protest for bail "Warunee" escalates to "water strike", joined by "Weha ''!






What happened?


Following the case of 'Nam Warunee,' the court sentenced her to imprisonment under Article 112 for posting a photo on Facebook depicting Rama 10 while changing the seasonal clothing of the Emerald Buddha into a purple long dress from Sirivannavari brand. The initial sentence was 3 years but was reduced to 1 year and 6 months as she pleaded guilty. Yet, the court subsequently ordered no bail until now.


Warunee stated, "Refusing bail is injustice." In the absence of bail, she is determined to take her own course, even if it means appearing in public after death. As a result, she decided to start her food strike on August 21, 2023, sustaining herself solely on milk. If bail remains denied, she intends to escalate her hunger strike involving both food and water, with water intake restricted to times of taking sleep and mood-related medications. Currently, Warunee has abstained from food for 3 days, consuming only soy milk, enduring stomach discomfort, and facing low blood pressure. She has also officially declined medical treatment.


"What I can do now is all that remains. I don't expect there to be significant gestures or immense impacts. I understand that people outside are preoccupied with different issues. However, I wish society would recognize Warunee as an ordinary individual enduring suffering under Article 112. The pain caused by this law is genuine, tangible, and there might be more individuals who have to endure this kind of pain." - Warunee


In addition to Warunee, “Weha Sanchonchanasuk”, a remand prisoner under Article 112 is also voicing his plea for bail after being imprisoned since May 18, 2023 through a parallel food strike to Warunee’s, started on August 23, 2023. This hunger strike adopts a non-total approach, wherein he abstains from consuming solid food while still maintaining intake of liquids, including water, fruit juices, and milk.


#WeAreManushyan ♾️ Equal Human Beings


Our Call to Action!

✊Manushya stands in solidarity with Warunee, Weha, and all pro-democracy activists facing judicial harassment, and everyone fighting for democracy in Thailand and Asia. We vehemently condemn the abuse of the lèse-majesté law, and we call on the Thai government to respect its international human rights obligations on the right to freedom of expression and information, laid down in Article 19 of the UDHR and ICCPR. It must also comply with the UPR recommendations on freedom of expression, including the revision of Article 112, which it received during its 3rd UPR cycle.


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