Mourners insist Amphon's death not being exploited
In death as in life, lese majeste detainee Amphon "Akong" Tangnoppakul, remains the centre of fierce contention between supporters and opponents of the controversial lese majeste law.
Supporters of the law, which saw Amphon, sentenced to prison for 20 years late last year – called the placing of Amphon’s body in front of the Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday a shameless and exploitative act to stir public sentiment against the law.
Amphon, also known as Uncle SMS, died in prison hospital on Tuesday. He was in jail for sending defamatory SMS text messages against the monarchy during and in the immediate aftermath of the crackdown on the red shirts in 2010, and to a personal secretary of then premier Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Opponents of the lese majeste law say they want to let the world know about the law they consider draconian, cruel and undemocratic. Vorapoj Phanpong, writer and co-author of an anthology on figures related to the lese majeste law which includes two articles on Amphon, claimed those who condemn the politicisation of Amphon’s death are killing him for the second time.
“Saying such a thing is like killing [Amphon] again. Death is the ultimate loss. If Thai society doesn’t see the issue now, which is so heavy, society must be blind. What else do we need to see now that one has died while in prison?” said Vorapoj. He was among the 300 or so crowd of mourners gathered in front of the court where the coffin of Amphon was placed, closing down three traffic lanes and creating a jam.
Bancha na Pattalung, a retired business executive and supporter for amendment of the law was also amongst the mourners. He said he understood if some thought displaying Amphon’s body – whose autopsy yesterday revealed he died from liver cancer – was exploitative, but added that it’s natural for those who oppose the law to use Amphon’s death as a case for the continued struggle.
“I don’t want to see it as exploitation,” Bancha told The Nation.
Red-shirt co-leader Jaran Ditta-apichai told the crowd after a Buddhist prayer at 4pm that: “The death of Akong will send a wave reverberating through the land.”
The group sang songs about injustice and shouted “Long live the people!” Protest banners ask: “Who killed Akong? We are all Akong.” A female speaker warned mourners and other speakers to be careful about what they say in case they end up in jail themselves.
“Can I speak the truth?” well-known writer Wat Walayangoon and one of the speakers addressing the crowd asked. “How long are we going to live under this law?”
Chulalongkorn University political scientist Puangthong Pawakapan, a member of the Public Campaign Committee to amend the lese majeste law, announced at the gathering that enough signatures had been collected to launch a process to amend the law and soon the committee would initiate the drive.
Pheu Thai MP Jaruphan Kuldiloke told the crowd to petition the Pheu Thai administration to reconsider amending the law.
The body of Amphon is expected to be carried to the front of Parliament this morning.
