The health of two young activists accused of insulting the Thai royal family has deteriorated after three weeks of hunger strike, the hospital where they are being treated said on Monday.
Tantawan Tuatulanon, 21, and Orawan Phupong, 23, stopped eating on January 18 to demand the abolition of the harshly punished crime of lèse-majesté and other pro-democracy reforms.
"In a weak state"
They are conscious but in weak condition, Thammasat University Hospital, north of Bangkok, said in a Facebook post.
Read alsoIn Thailand, the city where the Buddha is king
“
Vital organs like the kidneys start working more slowly
,” Paruhat Tor-udom, the hospital director, told reporters.
"
They can communicate with doctors and visitors, and if their condition deteriorates, it's not yet critical
," he said.
In addition to food, the two activists refused intravenous injections containing glucose and sodium.
Solidarity with other activists
They are accused of having insulted the powerful royal family, during two separate demonstrations in Bangkok at the beginning of 2022, one in front of United Nations buildings and the other in front of a shopping center, according to the association Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).
Awaiting trial, Tantawan and Orawan refused bail in solidarity with the other jailed activists.
The life of the two young women "
hangs by a thread
", reacted to AFP Sunai Phasuk, of the NGO Human Rights Watch.
“
It is heartbreaking to see two young women risk everything to demand freedom of expression in Thailand, and respect for fair trial rules for political detainees, such as the presumption of innocence and bail
,” said continued the expert.
Crime of lèse-majesté
The dreaded Article 112 on the crime of lèse-majesté, one of the most severe in the world of its kind, provides for sentences of three to 15 years in prison for anyone found guilty of defamation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family. .
Large-scale protests have taken place in 2020 demanding a sweeping overhaul of the monarchy, including the abolition of Article 112, used to stifle political dissent according to its critics.
Since 2020, according to THLR, 224 protesters have been charged with lèse-majesté.
The kingdom is preparing for legislative elections in May.
