Name: Netiporn (Age 28)
Occupation: Tutor
Case: Lèse Majesté (Article 112) from Carrying Out Polls
Date of Imprisonment: 26 January 2024
Location of Imprisonment: Department of Corrections Hospital

“Bung” Netiporn was a 28-year-old tutor, activist and long-time behind-the-scenes supporter of youth protestors. She supported youth protests beginning with those about education by Bad Student up until the protests to question and demand reform of the institution of the monarchy by Thaluwang. She had strong faith that youth represented the the power of transformation and the power of the future.

Bung grew up in a legal family. Her father is a judge and her sister is a lawyer. The court was her playground and she was adored and played with by her father’s fellow judges. She confessed that she previously held a much different perspective on politics. She agreed with the 2010 crackdown on red shirt protestors that led to the deaths of nearly 100 people. At the end of secondary school, Bung joined the demonstrations of the Peoples’ Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC).

But Bung grew up and was exposed to additional sources of news. In particular, she was affected by learning that one of the protesters killed during the crackdown on red shirts was a homeless person shot by a sniper. This changed her way of thinking and political perspective. She felt guilty towards red shirts as a person who had supported the coup [19 September 2006 coup] that led to the deaths of many people. She then decided to engage in political activism.

Bung was imprisoned twice. The first time was on 3 May 2022 when her bail was revoked by the Southern Bangkok Criminal Court in a case of carrying out a poll about the inconvenience caused by royal motorcades at Siam Paragon Mall on 8 February 2022. In this instance, an investigation official from Pathumwan Police Station submitted a petition claiming that Bung had carried out a poll in the Victory Monument area on 13 March 2022. The poll was on the topic of “Royal processions, farmer protests, the problem of debt and the feudal-capitalist monopoly,” and it asked, “Would you be willing to give your house to the royal family or not?” Two choices were provided: agree and would not agree. Bung was detained in prison for 94 days this first time and carried out a hunger strike in protest for 64 days before being granted bail.

Bung went into prison for the second time on 26 January 2024. The Criminal Court revoked her bail in a case of carrying out a poll to assess the hardship created by royal motorcades in the area of Siam Paragon Mall on 8 February 2022. An investigation official from Pathumwan Police Station submitted a petition claiming that on 6 August 2023, Bung joined a demonstration and spray painted the front of the Ministry of Culture demanding that Senator Naowarat Pongphaiboon be stripped of his title of National Artist. This time Bung again announced that she would go on a hunger strike. 

On 14 May 2024, Bung died due to a heart attack while she was being imprisoned at the Prison Hospital. She was sent to Thammasat University Hospital, but they were unable to revive her. The cause of death recorded by the physician was that it was the result of refeeding syndrome following her prolonged hunger strike. 

At the time of her death, Bung was facing 7 cases related to political activism, including 2 Article 112 cases. 3 cases remained at the level of police investigation and 4 cases were in the court.