Photos: Ginger Cat

A vigil was held yesterday (14 May) in front of the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court to mark the second anniversary of the death of activist Netiporn Sanesangkhom, who died in prison following a long hunger strike in 2024.

During the gathering, participants placed flowers around a picture of Netiporn. They also put up images of other political prisoners and signs calling for their release and amnesty for people charged with royal defamation. Participants took turn giving speeches, while some stood holding pictures of political prisoners. They then lit candles in memory of Netiporn before closing the event.

Netiporn, 28, died on 14 May 2024 after suffering cardiac arrest while on a hunger strike to call for judicial system reform and the release of political dissidents. She was being held in pre-trial detention on a royal defamation charge after the South Bangkok Criminal Court had revoked her bail on 26 January 2024 for participating in a protest at the Ministry of Culture on 6 August 2023. At the same time, she was also serving a 1-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

Her death raised questions about the treatment of detainees in the Corrections Hospital, where she was being held.  According to her medical records, she was diagnosed with Re-feeding Syndrome, a condition caused by a severe shift in electrolytes when a person who is malnourished begins feeding again. Her family have questioned the credibility of her medical records after several discrepancies were noted. Different documents recorded different times at which resuscitation began after she went into cardiac arrest. The records also stated that she was sent for a chest x-ray and a brain CT scan while CPR was being performed, which would mean that CPR was interrupted.
Medical records from Thammasat University Hospital, where Netiporn was transferred and later pronounced dead, said that she had no vital signs when she arrived and that an endotracheal tube had been misplaced in her oesophagus instead of her windpipe.

An inquest into her death began, after several postponements, on 20 August 2025. Witness examination concluded on 8 May. A ruling is scheduled to be delivered on 9 July.