Anousa Luangsuphom

Anousa "Jack" Luangsuphom (Lao: ອານຸຊາ 'ແຈັກ' ຫຼວງສຸພັນ; born c. 1998) is a Laotian human rights activist who is described as one of the few well-known critics of the government of Laos, who uses two Facebook groups to report on corruption and human rights abuses in the country and to call for democratic reforms.[1]

Activism

Luangsuphom is a native of Chanthabuly, Vientiane.[2]

Luangsuphom primarily uses Facebook in order to report on human rights abuses in Laos, and regularly calls for the end of one-party rule in the country; the Lao People's Revolutionary Party is the founding and sole ruling party of Laos.[3][4] Luangsuphom is critical of the political relationship between Laos and China, which he feels had led to worsening living situations for Laotian citizens, while making the government richer.[4] He also regularly posts on issues including air pollution; rights to education; and LGBT rights.[5]

Luangsuphom ran two Facebook groups: "Kub Khuean Duay Keyboard" (English: "driven by the keyboard"), which had 43, 000 members as of May 2023; and "Sor Tor Lor - the Republic", which had 6000 members.[5] The Diplomat reported that the groups' accumulative membership was "significant" given Laos' size and relatively low levels of internet penetration; in addition, all newspapers in the country are published by the government.[6][7] As a result of his activism, Human Rights Watch called Luangsuphom "one of the few people in Laos who regularly and openly expressed views that were critical of the government".[8]

Shooting

On 29 April 2023, Luangsuphom was shot in the face and chest by a masked gunman at After School Chocolate and Bar, a coffee shop in Chanthabouly, Vientiane; the attack was recorded on CCTV.[2][3][6][9] He was originally reported to have died while being transported to the 150 bed hospital.[2][8][10]

Following Luangsuphom's shooting, "Kub Kluen Duay Keyboard" promoted the use of the hashtag "ແຈັກຕ້ອງບໍ່ຕາຍຟຣີ" (English: "Justice for Jack") to call on a thorough investigation from the Laotian government.[11]

Luangsuphom's perceived death was criticized internationally by Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, who called on the Laotian government to investigate.[5][8] His shooting has been linked to the disappearance of other human rights activists in Laos like Sombath Somphone and Odd Sayavong.[1]

On 4 May, his family released a statement stating that he survived the shooting, and only reported his death to avoid him being targeted again. He currently remains in hospital.[12]

On 5 May, the Laotian government has not yet commmented on the shooting.

See also

References
  1. Ng, Kelly (3 May 2023). "Laos activist Anousa Luangsuphom killed in 'brazen' public shooting". BBC News. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  2. Vongphachanh, Manyphone (3 May 2023). "25-year-old man fatally shot in Vientiane capital". The Laotian Times. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. "Lao activist shot dead in Vientiane". Bangkok Post. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. "Popular Lao activist who criticized the government on Facebook shot and killed". RFA. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. "Laos: fatal shooting of 25-year-old human rights defender 'Jack' must be investigated immediately". Amnesty International. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  6. Strangio, Sebastian (3 May 2023). "Lao government critic shot dead in 'brazen' attack, rights group says". The Diplomat. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  7. Clark, Helen (12 May 2014). "Laos: crony scheme in control of press and civil society". Index on Censorship. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  8. "Laos: activist gunned down in Vientiane". Human Rights Watch. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  9. Bhumithon, Phon (2 May 2023). "ຊາຍໜຸ່ມ ນັກເຄື່ອນໄຫວ ດ້ານປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ຖືກຄາຕກັມ ຢູ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ". RFA Lao (in Lao). Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  10. "อุกอาจ! จ่อยิงดับแอดมิน "ขับเคลื่อนด้วยคีย์บอร์ด" เพจฝีปากกล้าวิจารณ์รัฐบาลลาว". MGR Online (in Thai). 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  11. "ຂັບເຄື່ອນດ້ວຍຄີບອດ". Facebook. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  12. Mao, Frances; Ng, Kelly (4 May 2023). "Laos activist Anousa Luangsuphom survived cafe shooting, rights group says". BBC News.
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