Benja Apan (; ; born 1999) is a Thai student and activist. In 2021, Apan became a prominent leader of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD), a group that called for revolutionary reforms to the Thai monarchy. In the

2020–2021 Thai protests In Thailand, protests began in early 2020 with demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. They later expanded to include the unprecedented demands for reform of the Monarchy of Thailand, Thai monarchy. The protes ...

, she co-organized the 'German embassy in Bangkok' protest, which drew more than 10,000 protesters, and later UFTD's 'Car Mob' protest. She was arrested by Thong Lor police for lèse majesté following her 'Reforms to the Monarchy' speech in front of Sino-Thai tower, and

imprisoned Imprisonment or incarceration is the restraint of a person's liberty for any cause whatsoever, whether by authority of the government, or by a person acting without such authority. In the latter case it is considered " false imprisonment". Impri ...

for 100 days in the Central Women's Correctional Institution.

Activism (2020–2021)

Benja Apan studied engineering at

Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology ( Thai: สถาบันเทคโนโลยีนานาชาติสิรินธร) (SIIT) is a semi-autonomous institute of technology established in 1992 within Thammasat Univers ...

Thammasat University Thammasat University (TU; ; , ) is a public university, public research university in Thailand with campuses in the Tha Phra Chan area of Bangkok, Rangsit, Pattaya and Lampang Province. , Thammasat University has over 39,000 students enrolled in ...

, where she first joined the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group. It was while Arnon Nampa, a co-leader of the Rasadon group, was detained that Apan assumed a key leadership position in the efforts of the activist group, organizing the 'German embassy in Bangkok' protest, which drew more than 10,000 protesters according to Nikkei Asia. Three days later, Thung Mahamek police charged her with sedition, along with Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, Korakot Saengyenphan, Chanin Wongsri, and Cholathit Chote-sawat. Apan gave her first speech on 7 November 2020 about sexism in the science industry. On 19 January 2021, Apan held a protest at

Iconsiam Iconsiam, stylized as ICONSIAM, is a mixed-use development on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. It includes a large shopping mall, which opened to the public on 9 November 2018, as well as hotels and residences. The ฿54 ...

shopping mall, owned by

Sirindhorn Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Princess Royal () (born 2 April 1955) is a member of the Thai royal family. She is the second daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, and the younger sister of King Vajiralongkorn. Early life Birth S ...

and

Charoen Pokphand The Charoen Pokphand Group Company, Ltd. (CP) (; ) is a Thai conglomerate based in Bangkok. It is Thailand's largest private company and the largest privately held Royal Warrant holder of the Thai Royal Family. The company describes itself as hav ...

group, with signs that read "Monopolizing the vaccine to give the spotlight to the monarchy". The protest gained a lot of interest from Thai media, as she was harassed and assaulted by Iconsiam guards. On 29 April, Apan and a group of other students sent an open letter to the Criminal Court, demanding the release of imprisoned activists such as Parit Chiwarak, which was signed by over 10,000 supporters. The judge who denied bail, Chanathip Muanpawong, was called to come to receive the letter, while Apan scattered sheets of paper printed with the names of 11,035 supporters on the stairs to the court building. She claimed that the students are not a threat to national security, but wanting to improve Thai society and for the monarchy to exist under the law. Apan also led the 10 August 2021 UFTD 'Car Mob' protest, with the goal of asserting that the 2014 coup by Prime Minister

Prayut Chan-o-cha Prayut Chan-o-cha (sometimes spelled Prayuth Chan-ocha; , ; born 21 March 1954) is a former Thai politician, army officer and dictator who became the 29th prime minister of Thailand after seizing power in the 2014 Thai coup d'état, 2014 coup ...

benefited only the elite. She criticized the government's mishandling of the

COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand The COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand is a part of the COVID-19 pandemic, worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). Thailand was the first country to report a case outside C ...

, the economy reboot, revocation of the junta constitution, and reforming of state structures.

Imprisonment (2021–2022)

Apan was arrested on 7 October and was charged with lèse majesté related to the 10 August 2021 'Car Mob' protest. She was denied bail and imprisoned while she awaited trial at Central Women Correctional Institution. On 4 November, she was sentenced to 6 months in prison for contempt of court. According to her lawyer, she was faced with the maximum jail term. After 100 days of an

arbitrary detention Arbitrary arrest and detention is the arrest and detention of an individual in a case in which there is no likelihood or evidence that they committed a crime against legal statute, or in which there has been no proper due process of law or order. ...

, on 14 January 2022, Apan was temporary released from imprisonment with a total bail cost of 200,000 baht, which was paid by the Ratsadornprasong fund. She was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device, to stay home from 6 pm to 6 am, and was banned from travelling abroad without the court's permission.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Apan, Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan Benja Apan 2020–2021 Thai protests

Activism (2020–2021)

Imprisonment (2021–2022)

See also

References