Tantawan Tuatulanon (Thai: ทานตะวัน ตัวตุลานนท์), nicknamed Tawan (Thai: ตะวัน); is a Thai student and activist who is facing legal proceedings in Thailand for violating the country's lèse-majesté laws.
Background
editTantawan was studying in Singapore. After the COVID-19 pandemic, she returned to Thailand and started working with several pro-democracy groups such as WeVolunteer, Draconis Revolution and Thaluwang.[1]
Arrest and detention
editShe was initially arrested in March 2022, after conducting a survey on opinions of royal motorcades[2] and livestreaming one. She was initially granted bail under the conditions that she stayed away from the royal family and didn't post more about them on social media.[3] On January 16, 2023, she and another activist, Orawan Phuphong, appeared in front of the supreme court, poured red paint over themselves and announced they were going to revoke their bail as a protest in favor of other lèse-majesté defendants who were not granted bail.[4]
Hunger strike
editOn January 18, 2023, Tantawan and another activist who was charged with lèse-majesté, Orawan "Bam" Phuphong, began a hunger strike by refusing all food and water, in order to protest the lack of bail given to other lèse-majesté defendants. They were given bail again and moved to the hospital,[5] where they started to take water but continued to refuse food.[6] A group of protestors marched on the Criminal Court of Thailand to protest the detention of lèse-majesté defendants. One of the marchers collapsed and died during the protest.[7] In February, they were moved out of the hospital and continued their hunger strike in front of the Supreme Court.[6]
After 52 days, Tantawan and Orawan stopped their hunger strike.[8] Many activists were granted bail during the hunger strike.[9] Only 3 of the original 16 protestors remained in jail at the end of the hunger strike and conditions for those under house arrest were loosened as well.[10] Media reported that they decided "it would be better to preserve their strength and get better to fight for the long haul."[8]
Response
editIn Thailand
editMonarchy reform activist Arnon Nampa held a rally in support of the hunger strikers, despite his own bail conditions. Two Thai opposition parties, Pheu Thai and Move Forward Party, said that they "respect" the activists and echoed their calls for the release of political prisoners and justice system reform.[11] An online magazine, The People, had to temporarily shut down after it faced backlash from giving awards to Tantawan and Orawan.[12]
International
editThe International Federation for Human Rights and World Organization Against Torture put out a statement "expressing ... deepest concern about the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Tantawan Tuatulanon."[13] Human Rights Watch called for her release as well.[14] Freedom Now filed a petition at the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on her case.[15]
Later Activism and Statements
editFollowing the 2023 Thai general election and the 9th anniversary of the 2014 Thai coup d'état, she said that, "Everyone [who helped the NCPO and Gen Prayut stay in power] has to go to jail. They must pay for what they did to the people."[16] She and Orawan attended a rally of the Move Forward Party and were allowed onstage while Paetongtarn Shinawatra made comments about freedom of expression.[17] Tantawan, along with 8 others, was arrested again after protesting the detention of a 15-year-old lèse-majesté defendant at a police station.[18] All 9 were granted bail.[19]
References
edit- ^ "Thailand: Freedom Now Petitions UN on Behalf of Student Activist Tantawan Tuatulanon". Freedom Now. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ "Royal motorcade pollsters granted bail". Prachatai. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ Charuvastra, Teeranai (7 April 2022). "The price of Freedom: Monarchy critics shackled by 'punitive' bail conditions". Prachatai. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ Strangio, Sebastian (24 January 2023). "Thai Activists Hospitalized After Hunger Strike Over Royal Defamation Cases". The Diplomat. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
- ^ "Hunger strikers moved to Thammasat Hospital". Bangkok Post. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Two hunger strikers leave hospital and will continue their fasting". Thai PBS World. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Demonstrator dies during march for political detainees". Bangkok Post. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ a b "Activists end hunger strike after 52 days". Bangkok Post. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Statistics of Political Detainees' Bail Requests between April 2022 and February 2023". Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. 28 February 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ York, Joanna (11 March 2023). "Thai activists facing royal defamation charges end 50-day hunger strike". France24. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ Rojanaphruk, Pravit (29 January 2023). "OPINION: TIME FOR TAWAN AND BAM TO END THEIR POLITICAL HUNGER STRIKE". Khaosod English. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Online magazine faces backlash over naming activists for annual award". Prachatai. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Thailand: Arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Tantawan Tuatulanon". 22 April 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Thailand: Free Detained Critics of Monarchy". 20 January 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Thailand: Freedom Now Petitions UN on Behalf of Student Activist Tantawan Tuatulanon". Freedom Now. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Coup leaders must be held accountable, say activists". Prachatai. 23 May 2023.
- ^ "'Tawan' and 'Bam' hit the campaign trail". 24 March 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "9 arrested after police station protest". Bangkok Post. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
- ^ "Samran Rat riot suspects freed on bail". Bangkok Post. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.