Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has been named as the host of funeral rites for a young security guard who hanged herself after posting a drawing of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha online and making complaints about hardships under his regime.
The suicide of Plaifon Amsarika, 19, a security guard in Bangkok, has drawn widespread public attention.
The young woman ended her life on Tuesday. About a week before her suicide, on April 22, the young woman had posted a pencil sketch online that she had made discussing hardships she had faced and described the prime minister as "heartless".
She wrote, "I drew it while depressed and not having any money to buy milk for my child. Everything is sold at astronomical prices. I drew it while depressed working 12 hour days and still not having anything left. I drew it with tears….."
Meanwhile, Khaosod Online reported that Kongkrit Hongwilai, a former Pheu Thai MP for Prachin Buri, had written Thaksin's name on a whiteboard as the host of her funeral rites scheduled to be held today. He insisted that naming Thaksin as the host had nothing to do with politics.
Police have attributed the young security guard's suicide to poor health and personal problems.
Plaifon, a native of Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong district, was found hanging in her room in a dormitory on Soi Phetkasem 47 in Bang Khae district of Bangkok about 1.55am on Tuesday, according to police.
Her husband Wichai Hemhuem told police that Plaifon had spoken to him over the phone and said she intended to hang herself.
He rushed to their room and found her hanging from a door frame. He cut her down and attempted to revive her, but she was not responsive.
Her mother said she believed the reason for her daughter's suicide was about living costs, not politics, and that Plaifon had received 5,000 baht in virus cash aid from the government after registering on April 16.