Thani Sasaom, political activist, died at 65, TLHR reports
Thani Sasaom, a 65-year-old computer shop owner turned motorcycle taxi rider who faced multiple charges under the Emergency Decree and Article 116 for participating in Thai political demonstrations, died of health complications on October 19, 2026, at age 65, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). His relatives announced his passing on Facebook after a long-standing involvement in grassroots political movements spanning from the May 1992 uprising to the 2020 youth protests.
From Computer Shop Owner to Motorcycle Taxi Rider
Thani lived in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret district and held a vocational diploma. His political engagement began during the May 1992 demonstrations against military rule. Before the 2006 coup, he operated a computer shop with strong daily revenues driven by favorable economic conditions. Following the military takeover, his business suffered a prolonged decline, forcing him to downsize.
Legal Battles and Court Outcomes Across Six Cases
The 2020 youth-led demonstrations marked his first exposure to criminal prosecution. TLHR recorded six legal actions against him. The first involved an assembly at Lumpini Park on May 13, 2020, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the shooting death of Seh Daeng. Thani and seven others faced charges under the Emergency Decree. After two and a half years of trial, the court acquitted all defendants.
During the July 18, 2020, #FreeYouth protest at Democracy Monument, Thani spoke on stage for the first time, elevating his status to a movement leader and drawing charges under Article 116 of the Criminal Code. Police arrested him alongside other prominent figures, and that case remained under appeal. He also participated in the September 20, 2020, Ratsadon plaque installation protest at Sanam Luang, facing additional Article 116 charges that the court later dismissed under an amnesty order. Three further cases involving violations of the Emergency Decree stemmed from rallies at Ratchaprasong Intersection on October 25, 2020, the Royal Thai Police headquarters on November 18, 2020, and Democracy Monument on July 18, 2021.
Surveillance and Family Pressures During Activism
Neighbors informed him that police visited his home twice looking for him after his public speaking engagement, though he was absent on both occasions. His sisters opposed his political involvement but recognized they could not alter his decisions. TLHR documented his account as part of its historical records tracking ordinary citizens who sustained civic movements over decades.
