Muted response as hunger strikers hit 50 days

Two young protesters held under Thailand’s strict royal insult law entered their 50th day of hunger striking, but in the run-up to a general election and with the government cracking down on dissent, the response to their marathon action has been muted.

Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phupong have been in and out of court and hospital since beginning their hunger strike on Jan 18 to urge political parties to support the abolition of the kingdom’s tough lese majeste laws.