Benja Apan

Benja Apan was born in Nakhon Ratchasima, lower northeastern Thailand.

She attended Suranaree School for lower secondary education. Benja did not interested in politics at first because her family members were royalists. When she arrived in Bangkok to study at Triam Udom Suksa School for higher secondary education, she found a place in school activities and interested in politics since then. She knew the renowned political activist leader, Parit Chiwarak, from that time.[2]

She is also interested in space exploration and aerospace industry, and wanted to be an astronaut since childhood.[3] So she changed her name from Benjamaporn to Benja because her aim was to study and work abroad for that field, which Thailand has not developed aerospace industry, 'Benja' could be easier to pronoun.[2]

Benja Apan entered Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology within Thammasat University to study engineering.[3] where she joined the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration group that started revolutionary reforms to the monarchy movement with Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul and Parit since 10 August 2020.[4]

On 26 October 2020, while Arnon Nampa co-leader of the Rasadon group was detained, Benja became one of the leaders in Germany embassy in Bangkok protest to put pressure on King Maha Vajiralongkorn who resided in Germany.[5] It drew more than 10,000 protesters according to Nikkei Asia.[6] Three days later Thung Mahamek police charged her with sedition along with Patsaravalee Tanakitvibulpon, Korakot Saengyenphan, Chanin Wongsri, Cholathit Chote-sawat.[7]

Benja started giving out a speech first time on 7 November about sexism in the science industry.[8]

On 19 January 2021, she went to Iconsiam shopping mall owned by Sirindhorn and Charoen Pokphand group to protest holding signs saying "Monopolizing the vaccine to give the spotlight to the monarchy", directly linked to Vajiralongkorn's Siam Bioscience drug company. She was harassed and assaulted by Iconsiam guard. That gained a lot of interest from Thai media.[9][10]

On 29 April, Benja and a group of other students came to the Criminal Court to send an open letter demanding the release of imprisoned activists such as Parit Chiwarak, signed by over 10,000 supporters. She called Chanathip Muanpawong, the judge who denied bail, to come to receive the letter. She scattered paper printed with the names of 11,035 supporters on the stairs to the court building. She said 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.[11]

Benja led the 10 August 2021 UFTD 'Car Mob' protest which stated at Ratchaprasong intersection. She stated in front of the Sino-Thai office, a construction company owned by Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, that the 2014 coup by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha benefited only the elite. She criticized the government’s mishandling of COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, reboot the economy, repeals the junta constitution, reforms in state structures, and the monarchy.[12]

She was arrested on 7 October for lèse majesté charge related to the 10 August 2021 'Car Mob' protest, demanding political and monarchy reform. She has been denied bail and imprisoned await trial in Central Women Correctional Institution.[13] On 4 November, she was sentenced to 6 months in prison on contempt of court on 29 April 2021, demanding the release of imprisoned activists. It was a maximum jail term according to her lawyer.[14]

• 2020–2021 Thai protests
• Human rights in Thailand
• Lèse-majesté in Thailand
• Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul