Anon Nampa, Thai Human Rights Lawyer, Selected for 2021 Gwangju Human Rights Award

The Special Award Goes to 'Watchdog Documentary Maker'... 5·18 Foundation to Hold Awards Ceremony on May 18

Anon Nampa, a Thai human rights lawyer selected for the 2021 Gwangju Human Rights Award. Photo by 5.18 Memorial Foundation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The 2021 Gwangju Human Rights Award Judging Committee (Chairman Moon Kyuhyun, Executive Representative of People Opening Peace and Unification) announced on the 14th that the '2021 Gwangju Human Rights Award' was awarded to Thai human rights lawyer 'Anon Nampa'.

The special award was given to the Indonesian organization 'Watchdoc Documentary Maker' (established in 2009).

Anon Nampa was highly praised for dedicating himself to democratic human rights movements despite personal threats such as military and authoritarianism.

Since taking his first step as a human rights lawyer in 2008, he has been providing free legal support for democracy and human rights activists. In particular, after the 2014 Thai military coup, he has been defending human rights activists imprisoned under Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code and those brought before military courts for fighting for freedom of assembly, association, and expression.

He co-founded the anti-dictatorship democratization movement group called 'Resisting Citizens' to oppose authoritarian regimes and raise awareness of human rights violations. In 2018, he also played a leading role in the 'We Want Elections' movement demanding the resignation of the military regime and general elections.

'Watchdoc Documentary Maker' is a documentary video production organization founded in 2009 by Indonesian journalists Andhy Panca Kurniawan and Dandhy Dwi Laksono.

Through documentary videos, it inspires human rights activists worldwide and citizens who aspire to democratic societies.

It highlights various social issues such as human rights, democracy, rule of law, environment, women, minorities, and history. All produced videos are provided free to the public and are used as campaign and educational materials by many human rights organizations and schools. Especially, many works dealing with human rights issues have greatly contributed to the promotion of human rights in Indonesia.

Additionally, its works have been selected as award-winning films at numerous international film festivals, including the Brazil International Anti-Corruption Documentary Film Festival and the Amsterdam CinemAsia Film Festival, playing a pioneering role in the cultural and artistic field for human rights promotion.

A committee official said, "We expect that today's decision to award the Gwangju Human Rights Award will strengthen cooperation and solidarity among countries worldwide, including Asia, and serve as an opportunity to advance democracy, human rights, and peace."

Meanwhile, the Gwangju Human Rights Award ceremony is scheduled for May 18, where the recipient will receive a plaque and a prize of $50,000, and the special award recipient will receive a plaque and a prize of $10,000.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.