In October 2011, Wattanapanit started the bookstore Book Re:public with Pinkaew Luangaramsri, an anthropology scholar from Chiang Mai University. After the May 2014 coup, the government closed her bookshop. They took her to military camps twice. They wanted her to sign an agreement not to work for political activities. The first time, they took her to Kawila Army Camp in Chiang Mai. The second time it was the Army Central Command.