Mongkhon “Busbas” Thirakot, a Chiang Rai-based activist and online clothes vendor detained for royal defamation, has been transferred to Chiang Mai Prison without prior notice after 4 weeks of a hunger strike to demand the release of political prisoners.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said that on Monday (16 June), Mongkhon was suddenly transferred from the Chiang Rai Central Prison, where he was originally detained, to the Chiang Mai Central Prison. Mongkhon said that a prison official handed him a document stating that he would be transferred to the Chiang Mai Central Prison without providing a clear explanation for the transfer. His family was not informed in advance.

He said that he was taken to Chiang Mai along with another prisoner in a prison vehicle and had to wear leg shackles throughout the four-hour journey. Once he arrived at the Chiang Mai Central Prison in Mae Taeng district, he was immediately taken to the prison infirmary without going through the normal intake procedures. There was no weighing, medical examination, or registration process. This prevented him from buying food for himself as he did at the Chiang Rai Prison, leaving him with only drinking water, which made his body feel more fatigued.

Mongkhon questioned the reason behind his inconspicuous transfer to Chiang Mai, asking why he was not sent to a hospital if he was being transferred for medical treatment.

Although Chiang Rai Central Prison authorities said that he was being transferred medical treatment during his hunger strike, Mongkhon said that the circumstances were inconsistent with the explanation. He said that his condition is not critical and that a doctor has been regularly examining him at the Chiang Rai Central Prison.

On 17 May, his 32^nd birthday, Mongkhon went on a hunger strike to demand the release of all political prisoners. He is not eating food, but still drinking coffee, milk, and water. So far, he has been on a hunger strike for 32 days.

It remains to be seen whether Mongkhon will be transferred back to the Chiang Rai Central Prison on 20 June, and what the true reason behind his transfer to Chiang Mai Prison actually is.

Mongkhon is facing a total of 54 years and 6 months in prison for 27 counts of royal defamation filed against him in 3 cases over 29 Facebook posts. His sentence is currently the longest prison sentence ever given for royal defamation.

Since January 2024, he has been detained pending appeal at the Chiang Rai Central Prison after the Supreme Court denied him bail on the grounds that his lengthy sentence makes him a flight risk.