Ampon Tangnoppakul has died while serving a twenty-year sentence for insulting the Thai “royal” family. Mr. Ampon was sentenced for sending SMS messages that were alleged to have violated the law that forbids free speech deemed insulting to the feudal rulers of Thailand.
Hundreds of Thai citizens protested following the death, demanding an end to the law that put Mr. Ampon in prison. There have been several prosecutions under the law in the last year and punishments have become harsher.