Muted response as hunger strikers hit 50 days

Hunger-striking activist Tantawan "Tawan" Tuatulanon is placed in an ambulance before being moved from Thammasat University Hospital to the Supreme Court on Feb 24. A week later she and Orawan Phupong were taken back to hospital. (Photo: AFP)

Two young protesters entered the 50th day of a hunger strike for bail rights and judicial reform on Wednesday, but in the run-up to an election and with the government cracking down on dissent, the response to their marathon action has been muted.

Tantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon and Orawan “Bam” Phupong have been in and out of court and hospital since beginning their hunger strike on Jan 18 to seek the release of political detainees and abolition of the lese-majeste and sedition laws.