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The Endless Journey Toward Democracy and Human Rights, 2000-2010 

2000: 1st Gwangju Prize for Human Rights laureate

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao, East Timor 

Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao was born on June 20, 1946 in Manatuto, East Timor. He completed

Secondary school at the Catholic Mission and worked as a chartered surveyor and afternoon

teacher at the Chinese School.

In April 1974 Gusmao joined the staff of ‘A Voz de Timor’ (The voice of Timor). Four years later,

he became a head of FRETILIN or the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor. He

went on to engage in armed struggle and in 1988 he organized CNRM, the National Council of 

the Moubere Resistance. He was arrested by the Indonesian Government and sentenced to life

imprisonment the sentence was later commuted to 20 years. On September 20 th, 1999, a UN-

sanctioned, Australian-led international peace-keeping force (INTERFET) entered East Timor 

and the Indonesian military withdrew. In 2002, he became the first president of East Timor whenit formally gained its independence and took office as Prime Minister in 2007.

2001: 2nd Gwangju Prize for Human Rights laureate

W.P.J. Basil Fernando, SriLanka

Born into a scholarly family in 1944, W.P.J. Basil Fernando graduated from the Faculty of Law

of the University of Ceylon and worked as a lawyer for ten years. He was an Appeals Counselor 

for Vietnamese refugees in Hong Kong as part of a project sponsored by the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from 1989 to1992. From 1992 to 1993, he was a

Senior United Nations Human Rights Officer in charge of the Investigation Unit in Cambodia

under the UN transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). Basil Fernando has been the

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Executive Director of the AHRC since 1994. Under his leadership, AHRC played a major role in

the enactment of the ‘Asia Human Rights Declaration’ along with 30 leaders of Asian human

rights organizations in Gwangju in May 1998, putting Gwangju on map of Asian human rights.

As a distinguished human rights activist, Mr. Fernando has criticized the bureaucratization of 

existing international organizations for human rights, including the UN Human Rights

Commission.

2002: 3rd

Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureate Organization

A lot of Koreans has been victimized in the pursuit of the democratization of their country and

fundamental rights to life. Some of them, including Chun Tae-il of 1970, have taken their own

lives. Others were killed secretly by the authorities. In response, the families of those victims

organized the Korea Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy (KABFD) which has

taken the initiatives to share the burden and solve various human rights issues, in particular 

spiritual deaths. In particular, in November 1998, the association pitched a tent for a sit-in

protest in front of the National Assembly Hall and pushed forward the legislation of the Special

Act on investigation of suspicious deaths. In December 1999, thanks largely to more than a year 

of campaigning; the National Assembly enacted “the act on Restoration of Honor and

Compensation of Domestic Activists” and “the Special Act to find the truth in cases of suspicious

death”.

2003: 4th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureate

Dandeniya Jayanthi, SriLanka

Dandeniya Jayanthi was born in a rural area in Southern SriLanka in 1959, and later moved to

the free Trade Zone to work. There she met Ranjith, who also worked in the zone, and they

planned to marry in December, 1989. On October 27th 1989, whilst returning from his workplace,

Ranjith and his legal advisor Mr. Lional were abducted, shot dead, set alight, and abandoned at

a place called Raddoluwa. Jayanthi lodged a complaint at the local police station and made

accusations against the Personal Manageress of the company. Despite being dismissed from

her workplace and receiving death threats, Jayanthi continued her struggle to find out the truth

with the help of the Catholic Church. Aided by friends who joined her in pursuing the truth, she

commemorated Ranjith and Lional at the place they were found in October 27 th 1991. Since that

time she has founded Kalape Api Solidarity Center (an NGO for the empowerment of young

women workers), monument for the disappeared, and the Free Trade Zone Employees Union,

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and has pioneered fact-finding missions into cases of murder and disappearance in the course

of the SriLankan civil War.

2004: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureate

 Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar 

Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Aung San, the leader of Burma’s independence movement, and

Khin Kyi, a nurse at Rangoon General Hospital (later appointed Burmese Ambassador to India)

was born in Rangoon, the capital of Burma. She graduated in philosophy from Oxford University,

UK in 1964 and became a visiting scholar at Kyoto University.

She emerged as a leader of the pro-democracy movement during the 8888 uprising in protest

against the military junta in 1998. She was inspired by the non-violent resistance advocated by

both Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, the leader of the civil rights movement in the

U.S., and stuck to the philosophy of non-violence in every struggle with which she was engaged.

In 1990, a general election was held as a result of the people’s desire for democratization, the

National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aun San Suu Kyi, won the most votes, winning

392 out of 492 parliamentary seats. But the military nullified the result and arrested many

democracy advocates including Suu Kyi.

Her brave efforts for the sake of the pro-democracy movement won her the Rafto Human Rights

Prize in 1990, the Sakharov Human Rights Prize from the European Parliament Award in 1991,

and the Nobel Peace Prize in the same year. Still she is under house arrest by Military Junta.

In the light of the above, the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Committee 2004, have selected

Aung San Suu Kyi as this year’s winner.

2005: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureate

Wardah Hafiz, Indonesia

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Wardah Hafiz was born in Jombang, East Java, 1952. After graduating from IKIP Teaching

Institute in Malang, East Java, she earned a master’s degree in Sociology from Ball State

University, Muncie, Indiana, USA. Since that time she been involved with a variety of NGOs and

has served as Chairperson of the Women’s Group for Freedom of Press.

Alongside her outstanding activities in the areas of urban poverty and women’s rights, Wardah

Hafiz was also one of the leaders of the pro-democracy movement in Indonesia, and played a

major role in bringing an end to dictatorial government rule. She established a producer’

cooperative for mushroom cultivation for the benefit of poor people and a radio broadcasting

station for local community information exchange. As a leader of women’s activities and peace

movements, Hafiz headed the gender equality movement in cooperation with the leaders of the

Indonesia Forum for Women and Islam, despite the challenges inherent to being a female

leader in a Muslim country. She also mobilized a number of human rights lawyers to conduct a

movement against injustice. In particular, she played a major role in preventing the military

regime from once again seizing power by investigating and exposing the corruption amongst

high-level families in the first free elections following the demolition of the Suharto Regime.

2006: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights co-Laureate

Malalai Joya, Afghanistan 

Malalai Joya was born in 1978 in Farah, Afghanistan. She grew up in the refugee camps of Iran

and Pakistan after her father was wounded while fighting against the Soviet Union. When the

Soviets left she returned to Afghanistan where she spent her adolescence under the rule of the

Taliban.

Under the Taliban’s regime, she began teaching literacy courses for women and children. Later 

she headed the non-governmental group, “Organization for promotion Afghan Women’sCapabilities”, and at the age of 24 was elected representative of Farah Province after the

collapse of Taliban rule. In October 2005, she was elected to the 249-seat National Assembly,

or Wolesi Jirga, with the support of a great many people and played leading role in country’s

restoration. During this period she attracted public attention by speaking out publicly against

human rights violations and issues affecting women in Afghanistan. As a result of her actions,

Joya received numerous death threats and survived four assassination attempts in the wake of 

her activities against the domination of warlords. In the face of these challenges she refused to

back down or remain silent saying, “they will kill me but they will not kill my voice, because it will

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be the voice of all Afghan women. You can cut the flower, but you cannot stop the coming of 

spring.” Aside from her educational involvement, she established Hampton Halth Center 

providing free health care for marginalized communities in Farah and has organized public

computer education courses for about 200 girls and orphans.

2006: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights co-Laureate

 Angkhana Neelaphaijit, Thailand 

Angkhana Neelaphaijit, whose husband Somchai Neelapaijit, a prominent lawyer and human

rights defender in Thailand, disappeared on 12 March 2004, was born in 1957 in Thailand. At

the time of his disappearance Somchai Neelapaijit was acting on behalf of five individuals

detained in connection with the violence in the deep south of Thailand: his body is still missing.

Since that time Angkhana Neelaphaijit has stood firmly on the front line to obtain justice

regarding her husband’s disappearance.

She has given a testimony to the UN Commission on Human Rights about his disappearanceand met with UN officials together with her four daughters and one son. In March 2006,

Angkhana received an award from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand to mark

International Women’s Day and has become an inspiration for many in his society and beyond.

Angkhana is now working constantly on these issues, and is at the heart of a movement by

victims’ families. She also received the 2nd Asian Human Rights Defender Award from the

AHRC on behalf of her husband. Angkhana’s achievement has had a big impact on the world as

well as on the Thai people. Her fight against state issues such as murder, involuntary

disappearance and the practice of torture continues to this very day.

2007: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights co-Laureate

Lenin Raghuvanshi, India

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Lenin Raghuvanshi, born in Varansi, India, started to engage in social activities right after 

graduating from high school. In 1990, he established the Uttar Pradesh Branch of the United

Nation Youth Organization (UNYO), and organized several awareness seminars and workshops.

In 1993 he founded thee Bachpan Bachao ANDOLON OR Save Childhood Campaign. This was

aimed at rescuing the millions of children employed in Carpet, silk and sports industry. It brought

him in conflict with the local industries that enjoyed much political economic and social clout.

Between 1993 and 1998 he promoted campaign on the children labor force and revealed the flip

side of the problem. In 1995, he established PVCHR or People’s Vigilance Committee on

Human Right.

Today PVCHR is working in 45 villages and 2 slums in Varanasi district running centers all in all

catering to hundreds of children, treating education as fundamental Rights to which every child

must have access. Apart from Varanasi PVCHR is working in 80 districts of U.P. Bihar, Harahan,

and Madhya Prodesh and Chattisgarh. Lenin has become synonymous with crusade against

slavery, exploitation related to human and the child labor concerns. He has brought light in the

lives of more than 3500 bonded children, men and women, is showing hope to hundreds of 

Delits and setting an example to others.

2007: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights co-Laureate

Irom Sharmila Chanu, India

Irom Sharmila Chanu was born in 1972, Manipur, India. After graduating from high school in

Manipur, she worked as a social worker from 1990. She participated in the open forums,

discussions, seminars and workshops in many places and volunteered with various

organizations for peace and development.

She began a six-year hunger strike on November 2nd, 2000, in protest against the repressive

Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958. On November 2th 2000 Assam Rifles, theIndian military opened fire on its own citizens in the state of Monipur, which was one of the

many such incidents following the enactment of the AFSPA. On November 6 th under section

309 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), she was arrested on charge of ‘attempting suicide’, and

force-fed through a nasal tube. The next day, after being released from a year-long judicial

custody in Jawaharlal Nehru hospital, Imphal, she was rearrested under Section 309 for another 

year, thus continuing the cycle of detention. Fellow activists strongly speculate that the

government is keeping her alive due to the risk of her being propelled into martyrdom, further 

inflaming the frustration in the North-East. In this respect, the BBC reports that the Indian

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Government cannot let Sharmila die because: “the government cannot afford a high-profile

martyr for the Manipur nationalist movement.”

Few people have raised their voice progressively and independently like Sharmila. Her struggle

is her determination to build justice in Manipur. She was referred as ‘Iron lady of Manipur’ by

People’s Rights Organization on International Women’s Day, 2005.

2008: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureate

Muneer A. Malik, Pakistan

Muneer A. Malik was born on April 8, 1950 his parents migrated to Pakistan upon the

partitioning of the subcontinent of India. He went on to Lawrence College, one of the finest

boarding school in Pakistan. He graduated with an excellent academic record, and enrolled at

the NED Engineering College after which he proceeded to the United States to study Chemical

Engineering. However, he later changed his mind and selected Accounting as his major. He

received his Juris Doctor in 1974, passed the California Bar exam in December of the same

year and also qualified as a certified Public accountant.

Upon his return to Pakistan, Malik launched his career as a lawyer. He was elected General

Secretary of the Karachi Bar Association and was one of the leaders of the movement for the

restoration of democracy fighting against the dictatorship of General Ziaul Haq. He was

incarcerated in Karachi Central Prison in 1981 on the substantive charge that his activities were

causing disaffection amongst the people in 1981 on the substantive charge that his activities

were causing disaffection amongst the people against members of the heat of international

pressure the charges were dropped and he was released. As an active member of the Human

Rights Commission of Pakistan, he has worked on a number of assignments, including election

monitoring activities in the 1988 polls. As a result of his involvement with human rights activities,

the authorities have threatened him in a number of ways by sealing his office, spying gunfire on

his residence, mistreating during his jail term. In 2006, he was conferred the Dorab Patel

Human Rights Award by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and has also been

awarded the Human Rights Defenders Award with Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan by the Asian Human

Rights Commission.

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2009: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureate

Min Ko Naing, Myanmar 

Min Ko Naing was born in 1962, Burma. “Min Ko Naing”, meaning ‘Conqueror of Kings’ is used

instead of his original name, Paw U Tun. For the past few decades he has organized the All

Burma Federation of Student Union (ABFSU), a nationwide student union against Burma’s

military junta. In 1988, he was elected Chairperson of the group and played a prominent role in

the 8888 Uprising, where Millions of people participated took to the streets, marching in protest

against the military Junta and declaring democracy. Since then, Min Ko Naing has become one

of the most well-known outspoken opponents of the military regime in Burma. At this time all

forms of protest were brutally crushed by the military regime and thousands of activists were

forced to flee to the border. In an interview with Asia Week in 1988 he said, “I will never die.

Physically I might be dead, but many more Min Ko Naings will appear to take my place”.

In 1989, Min Ko Naing was arrested and detained without charge or trial. Two years later he

was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and was finally released in 2004 and then he runs WhiteSunday Campaign (2006). He was rearrested on Aug. 21, 2007, on charges of organizing a

demonstration that led to the “Saffron Revolution.” He was given a 65-year sentence.

In recognition of his efforts Min Ko Naing has received several important prizes including the

President’s International Democracy Award, US (2008), the Civil Courage Prize, Uu(2005), The

Student Peace Prize, Norway (2001) and the Homo Homini Award, Czech Republic (2000).

2010: Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Laureate

Sushil Pyakurel, Nepal  

Sushil Pyakurel is the President of the Accountability Watch Committee (AWC), Nepal, and a

member of the Dialogue Group for the Constituent Assembly. He is also the founder and former 

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Chairperson of the Nepalese human rights organization INSEC and a former Commissioner of 

Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

For over two decades Pyakurel has been actively involved in the promotion and protection of 

human rights and democracy in Nepal. In 1989 he had the opportunity to lead the Nepalese

delegation to “People’s Plan for 21st Century” (PP21) held in Japan. In the same year Pyakurel

founded the Informal Service Center (INSEC), which has gone on to become a leading human

rights organization in Nepal. In the 2000s Pyakurel made several significant and, on occasion,

controversial contributions to the field of human rights. Most notably, he boldly criticized the

King of Nepal’s decision to assume executive state power on 1st February 2005. As a result, he

was burdened with travel restrictions until 20th March. On this date his travel restrictions were

unwillingly relaxed following the submission of a letter written by eight US Senators and

pressure from the international community. Soon after this, the Nepalese Government permitted

him to visit the USA where he had the opportunity to brief the US Senate and other political

leaders and international human rights organizations about the human rights situation in Nepal

following the royal takeover. Since the peace agreement of November 2006, Pyakurel has been

engaged in raising national and international attention and support for elections to the

constituent assembly. In 2008 Pyakurel was appointed President of the Accountability Watch

Committee.

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, the May 18

Memorial Foundation is awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 2010 to Sushil Pyakurel.