March 6, 2006
AA-001-2006

A Special Announcement by the Asian Human Rights Commission

ASIA: 2nd AHRC Asian Human Rights Defender Award Presentation Ceremony for Somchai Neelaphaijit

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Hong Kong, with the cooperation of the Institute of Asian Studies and Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University and the NGOs Coalition for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, Thailand, is pleased to announce that the 2nd Asian Human Rights Defenders Award Presentation Ceremony for Mr Somchai Neelaphaijit (posthumous), will be held on Saturday, 11 March 2006, 1-4pm, in the Saranithet Room, Main Auditorium, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.

The programme for the ceremony follows. All persons concerned for the promotion of human rights in Thailand and the protection of human rights defenders there are invited to attend.

1:00 - 1:10pm
Opening remarks by Professor Supang Janthawanich, Director, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University

1:10 - 1:20pm Readings (1)
• Messages from Professor Stephen Toope, Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and Ms Hina Jilani, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the situation of Human Rights Defenders
• Poem: 'By the wayside', by Mr Basil Fernando

1:20 - 1:50pm
Speech by Professor Vitit Muntarbhorn, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Professor, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University

1:50 - 2:00pm Readings (2)
• Message from Mrs Suciwati Munir, labour union leader and wife of murdered Indonesian human rights defender Mr Munir Said Thalib
• Poem by Mr Sarkareya Amatya

2:00 - 2:30pm
Video of Somchai’s last public discussion, on torture, followed by comments from Associate Professor Jaran Dithapichai, Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, and Mr Danthong Breen, representative of the Union for Civil Liberty

2:30 - 2:40pm Readings (3)
• Other selected messages, including from Professor Kwak Nohyun, Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission of Korea; Justice Michael Kirby, High Court of Australia, and Justice D K Basu (retired), Calcutta High Court, India
• Poem: 'Death', by Mr Harold Pinter, translated by Mr Pojana Chandarasanthi

2:40 - 3:00pm
Slide presentation: 'Somchai Neelaphaijit and his life'

3:00 - 3:30pm
Speech and award presentation by Mr John Joseph Clancey, Chairman of the Board, Asian Human Rights Commission; Receipt of award by Mrs Angkhana Neelaphaijit (on behalf of Mr Somchai Neelaphaijit)

3:30 - 4:00pm
Appreciation speech by Mrs Angkhana Neelaphaijit, followed by group photos

Host: Ms Supinya Klangnarong

Programme will be conducted in Thai and English.

For further inquiries please contact:
In Thailand, Pornpen Khongkachonkiet: (66) 01-6824013 or noinoipornpen@hotmail.com
In Hong Kong, Nick Cheesman: (852) 2698 6339 or editor@article2.org

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About AHRC The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation monitoring and lobbying human rights issues in Asia. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984