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Writer's pictureManushya Foundation

#WhatsHappeningInThailand #Abolish112 🚨12 Days of ‘Bung’ Thaluwang’s Hunger Strike🚨




📣 Why is Bung on her second hunger strike? 


‘Bung’ Netiporn or ‘Bung’ Thaluwang started a second hunger strike on January 27th, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. to defy the unjust justice system in Thailand. In her own words, Bung said,

“Let there be a reform of the justice process. No one must be jailed for having political differences.”

Bung, facing health challenges such as hepatitis and urinary tract infections, remains steadfast in updating her well-being and hunger strike from inside the Central Women’s Correctional Institution.


📣 But Why is Bung being jailed? 


This marks her second, and most recent, hunger strike. ‘Bung’has been arbitrarily incarcerated in the Central Women's Correctional Institution, following the court’s decision to withdraw bail in her lese majeste case (Section 112). This was related to her participation in the protest at Siam Paragon on February 8, 2022. The bail withdrawal occurred as authorities claimed Bung participated in a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Culture to demand the removal of Senator ‘Naowarat Phongpaiboon’ from the National Artist position on August 6, 2023. 

Subsequently, in October 2023, Bung was assaulted by the police with an iron rod while joining   a protest to meet with “Folk” Sahrat Sukkamla, a former novice monk who was detained while pending a bail order in the Appeal Court for his Section 112 case. The court, citing a violation of bail conditions, sentenced Bung to one month in prison. Totaling the number of political prisoners awaiting trial to 26.


📣 Looking back at her first hunger strike: 


On June 2nd, 2022, the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court denied bail to Bung for the third time in her Royal Defamation (Section 112) case related to the poll survey she conducted on the public discontent during the Royal Motorcade. In protest, Bung went on a hunger strike for more than 64 days before being finally released on bail.


Our Call to Action:


Manushya Foundation stands in solidarity with ‘Bung’ Netiporn and all pro-democracy activists, protesters, and human rights defenders in demanding TRUE democracy and reform of the monarchy.


📢 We vehemently condemn the abusive use of the lèse-majesté law to crack down on critics and activists. 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 comply with the UPR recommendations on freedom of expression, including the revision of section 112, which it received during its 3rd UPR cycle.


#WeAreManushyan ♾Equal Human Beings



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