On April 29th, Anousa “Jack” Luangsouphom, a prominent human rights defender in Laos, was attacked in a coffee shop in the Chanthabuly district of the capital Vientiane. Though early reports suggested that Jack had been killed, it has since been confirmed that he survived the shooting. Amnesty International is now calling on the Lao authorities to undertake a full investigation into the incident.
Jack’s Facebook pages “Driven by the Keyboard” and “Sor Tor Lor – the Republic” had amassed a large following due to his outspoken criticism of the Lao government and society, with posts about a range of issues from environmental pollution to LGBTI rights. He was widely known and respected for his activism in the country.
“The international community and UN agencies must demand that Lao authorities ensure the full protection of human rights defenders,” said Amnesty’s Joe Freeman.
Sadly, independent activism and advocacy for human rights are extremely risky in Laos. The government there controls nearly all the media and has a known history of repression against human rights defenders. Some attackers remain unidentified and unsolved crimes against activists are not uncommon.
This is not the first time that Lao authorities have been called to full account for their attacks on human rights defenders. In 2012, Sombath Somphone, a prominent civil society leader, was taken away by unknown individuals after being stopped by police in Vientiane. To date, he has not been seen or heard from.
Similarly, in 2016 three Lao human rights activists were arrested following their participation in a peaceful demonstration outside the Lao embassy in Bangkok. They were later sentenced to between 12 and 20 years in prison in a secret trial in April 2017.
It is no exaggeration to say that speaking out as an activist or human rights defender in Laos carries grave risks. For Jack, though alive, the shooting is a brazen and alarming attack on his work and safety. The Lao authorities must undertake a thorough and impartial investigation, and the international community must continue to push for the full protection of human rights defenders in the country.
<< photo by Alexander Grey >>
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