Nuamthong Praiwan

Democracy After Death: The Tragedy of Uncle Nuamthong Praiwan directed by, the exile, Neti Wichiansaen (Pruay Santihead) in 2016. It was a combination of animation, performances and news footage. The director tried to examined the period of Thai politics defined by the military coup of 2006 and 2014. Neti was accused of violating Article 112 in late 2010.

In 2013, about a thousand of anti-coup activists and Red Shirts commemorated the seventh anniversary of the suicide. The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship group donated two million baht to Nuamthong's wife. The donation was from Potjaman Na Pombejra, ex-wife of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

At 6 am, Saturday 30 September 2006, Nuamthong drove his taxi, spray painted with the words "[CDR is] destroying the country," and "Sacrificing life", into an M41 Walker Bulldog tank at Bangkok's Royal Plaza. Nuamthong was severely injured and taken to a police station nearby. "I did it intentionally to protest the junta that has destroyed our country, and I painted all the words myself," noted Nuamthong to reporters from his bed at Vachira Hospital.

Nuamgthong's body was found hanging, with a hood covering his face, from a footbridge on Vibhavadi Rangsit road near the headquarters of Thai Rath newspaper in Bangkok on 31 October 2006. Police ruled the death a suicide after forensic tests were stated to have shown no traces of a physical assault or struggle. Although Nuamthong's body was found with a suicide note, family members testified that he had given no hint of being depressed or about to commit suicide. Nuamthong wore a black T-shirt with a drawing of the Democracy Monument and a poem about the power of the masses. Newspaper clippings about his crash into the army tank were also found on his body. His wife, Boonchu, said he had given no farewells or done anything that would suggest he was planning to kill himself.

He was released from the hospital on 12 October, and attended the 33rd anniversary of the 14 October 1973 democratic uprising.

His wife later attempted to transport his coffin to the 14 October 1973 Memorial on Ratchadamnoen road for bathing rituals. Police prevented her van from arriving at the Memorial.

Nuamthong Praiwan (Thai: นวมทอง ไพรวัลย์; RTGS: Nuamthong Phraiwan) (21 October 1946 – 31 October 2006) was a Thai taxi driver who drove his taxi into a tank in protest after the military coup of 2006. He was later found hanging from a pedestrian footbridge. Officials found a suicide note and later ruled his death a suicide. His sacrifices were praised by several democracy activists.