A group of artists in Chiang Mai has gone on hunger strike for 112 hours in a public bid to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lèse majesté law. 

The artists began their hunger strike at 12 am on 26 Sept at Lan Lanthom, Arts and Culture Exhibition Hall, Chiang Mai University.

Mit Chai-in and two fellow artists will not eat and drink only water for 112 hours.  Four other artists also fasted with them on the first day. 

Mit Chai-in

Mit said that during the more than 4 day fast, he and his friends would discuss the problems of Article 112 and Thai politics with those who came to visit the venue. 

He said that he agreed with the call to abolish Article 112 as a starting point to solve the problems concerning the status and role of the monarchy, which have today become contentious points in Thai politics, and he supported the proposals made by the Nitirassadorn group and Somsak Jeamteerasakul.

They will stop fasting at 4 am on 1 Oct, and release a statement on Article 112.

The hunger strike is part of the ‘madiFESTO2011’, an annual arts and culture festival organized since 2009 by the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University.  The festival also includes art exhibits, film screenings, performances and cultural activities both at the venue and some other public places in the city.

Mit, 51, is an independent visual artist.  He studied fine arts at Silpakorn University in Bangkok, but did not graduate.

On 24 Sept, a group of people who called themselves ‘Love Father in Action (รักพ่อภาคปฏิบัติ)’ published a video clip of an activity in which they joined forces to erase graffiti in public places in Bangkok which they deemed offensive to the monarchy, including ‘No 112’ messages.

They gathered again on 25 Sept at Siriraj Hospital to hold activities to show their loyalty, including a ceremony receiving t-shirts, taking a vow and praying to bless the King.