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. 1 2 Ng, Kelly (3 May 2023). "Laos activist Anousa Luangsuphom killed in 'brazen' public shooting". BBC News. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Vongphachanh, Manyphone (3 May 2023). "25-year-old man fatally shot in Vientiane capital". The Laotian Times. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Lao activist shot dead in Vientiane". Bangkok Post. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Popular Lao activist who criticized the government on Facebook shot and killed". RFA. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 "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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