News Update: Jack is Alive! #JusticeForJack

NEWS UPDATE: JACK IS ALIVE! #JusticeForJack

🚨 Last night, May 3, 2023, at 8PM ICT, the Facebook page “Power of the Keyboard” (ຂັບເຄື່ອນດ້ວຍຄີບອດ) confirmed that Jack survived the brutal shooting perpetrated against him.[1] On April 29, 2023, Jack was shot twice by an individual, in a barbaric murder attempt, at the local bar ‘After School Chocolate&Bar’ in Vientiane, Laos.[2]

His family and other sources confirmed that he is currently undergoing medical treatment in the 150 beds hospital in Vientiane, Laos. On May 1, 2023, his family had initially reported him dead to ensure his safety, fearing the shooter would finish the job and kill Jack.

Yesterday, May 3, 2023, the Lao police visited Jack at the hospital and took his pictures. That prompted the family to disclose Jack is alive, not trusting the Lao government would undertake an independent and impartial investigation if the world keeps believing he’s dead.

“We are very happy that Jack is alive, and we call for an impartial investigation and protection for Jack,” said Emilie Palamy Pradichit, the Founder & Executive Director of Manushya Foundation, to the Southeast Asia Globe.[3]

The brutal attempted murder of Jack is the latest in a string of similar attacks in recent years targeting Lao human rights activists who speak out against the authoritarian government, furthering the cycle of political violence and suppression of dissenting voices in the country.

🚩 Manushya Foundation calls on the Lao government to immediately, transparently, and thoroughly investigate the case and bring justice to Jack! We also call on the international community, the United Nations and the diplomatic community in Laos, to visit Jack at the hospital, and to guarantee protection and safety for him and his family.

Our sincere hope is for Jack’s health to remain stable and for his recovery from this traumatic attempt to murder him. Jack’s family is currently calling for donations to support his medical care. People can donate here.[4]

#WeAreManushyan ♾ Equal Human Beings

🔗 Check out our News Release to learn more about what happened: https://bit.ly/3AZvYUR

#ຂັບເຄື່ອນດ້ວຍຄີບອດ #ແຈັກຕ້ອງບໍ່ຕາຍຟຣີ #MilkTeaAlliance #DemocracyNow #WhatsHappeningInLaos

References:

[1]. Facebook, Power of the Keyboard Facebook Page (ຂັບເຄື່ອນດ້ວຍຄີບອດ), Public post announcing that Jack Anousa is alive, (3 May 2023), available at: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0snYNrxHE7RZGDixvrFB3jX6yVkmeKzkHBf4fKr4JNy6ZbpAUDcyezWLTJGnfmoGLl&id=100083284527044

[2]. Manushya Foundation, News Release: #JusticeForJack! Attempted Murder of Lao Youth Democracy Activist Demands Independent Investigation, (2 May 2023), available at: https://www.manushyafoundation.org/post/news-release-justiceforjack

[3]. Southeast Asia Globe, “Don’t criticise the government unless you want to disappear” Lao activist survives shooting in cold-blood, (4 May 2023), available at: https://southeastasiaglobe.com/lao-activist-survives-shooting/

[4]. Facebook, Power of the Keyboard Facebook Page (ຂັບເຄື່ອນດ້ວຍຄີບອດ), Public post calling for donations for Jack Anousa, (4 May 2023), available at: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid036nRCtkKKDM5iyPg4p2erTfDRKR2YwN6QD7o8b1MeF1ohtrDAb4BL9YTXhnDWMbzYl&id=100083284527044

All you need to know about Manushya Foundation’s previous work to seek justice for human rights defenders and local communities in Laos ⤵️

• News release: Laos must undertake transparent and independentinvestigation to ensure effective remedies for the victims of the dam collapse – and Thailand should also bear responsibility, August 20, 2018;

• Statement of the Thai Business & Human Rights Network on the Lao Dam Collapse, August 20, 2018;

• Manushya Foundation's Submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights on the situation in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), March 2019;

• Joint Submission with the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) tothe UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) for Lao PDR Third UPR Cycle, July 21, 2019;

• Joint Statement: One year after Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy dam collapse, civil society from Korea and the Mekong call for immediate accountability and redress, July 23, 2019;

• Manushya’s Foundation UPR Factsheet to inform Lao PDR’s Third UPR: Overview of the Human Rights Situation in Lao PDR - Legal Framework, Challenges, Case Studies & Community-led UPR Recommendations, January 2020;

• #Freemuay from jail in Laos: Campaign to Free Lao woman human rights defender Ms. Houayheuang Xayabouly (Muay) and stop the human rights violations against her;

• Joint Complaint to the United Nations on the Human Rights Violations faced by Ms. Houayheuang Xayabouly (Muay), Lao Woman Human Rights Defender, March 30, 2020;

• Individual Complaint to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) concerning the case of Houayheuang (“Muay”) Xayabouly, December 15, 2020;

• Follow-up UN Complaint to seek Justice for the Survivors of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Dam Collapse, in Attapeu Province, Laos, February 28, 2022;

• News Release: Lao Government and Implicated Companies MustDeliver Justice for Survivors of 2018 Attapeu Dam Collapse, July 26, 2022;

• News Release: Responsible governments and implicated companies must ensure safety and effective access to information of communities living near the Nam Theun 1 dam in Laos, August 23, 2022.