2 Human Rights Media Awards go to Prachatai works

Prachatai’s collaborative investigative report on Wanchalearm Satsaksit’s disappearance and a documentary on the unremitting hardship of an injured Red Shirt protester have received awards from Amnesty International Thailand (AIT).

A group photo of the awardees

On February 24, 2022, AIT hosted a ceremony to announce the winners of their “Human Rights Media Awards 2021” at the Lunar Room, 10th floor, AVANI Riverside Bangkok.

“What Happened to Wanchalearm?” a cross-border investigative report by Prachatai, Voice of Democracy in Cambodia and a Southeast Asian outlet, New Naratif, won an outstanding award in the category of online news and feature stories.

“Wanchalearm is one among the those who have been injured, imprisoned and disappeared as a result of deep-rooted Thai political violence. Cases in the past have proved that this violence is incomparably more ruthless and pitiless than domestic violence,” said Yiamyut Sutthichaya, Prachatai English reporter who accepted the award with his colleague, Anna Lawattanatrakul.

“We hope that this work will be a part of moving our society toward the day when the perpetrators are punished, the victims receive justice and no case like that of Wanchalearm and other Thais happens again.”

“12 years have passed, and those involved with the crackdown have never been brought to justice. 12 years have passed, and the wounds of the Red Shirts and their families have received barely any compensation. A state under a culture of impunity is a state where history is never settled, and is a monster that swallows the hopes and dreams of its people instead of doing the opposite. So we all are still here to do our job,” said Nutcha Tantivitayapitak, co-author of the ‘Red's Scar’ with Sorawut Wongsaranon.

Watch: Red's Scar

Read: What Happened to Wanchalearm?

The awards are divided into outstanding media on human rights in print media, online news and feature stories, broadcast news and feature stories, news and feature stories via TV shows, news and feature stories via online video clips, and photos titled “Life amidst Covid-19 crisis through human rights lens” for youth and the general public.

Thitirat Thipsamritkul, Chair of AIT’s Board of Directors, stated that the media functions like the “light of a candle” illuminating human rights issues and making them  more visible in our society and inviting us to nurture mutual respect. It is therefore important to give moral support to the media who have been working hard to disseminate news to respect, promote and protect human rights.

The Media for Human Rights Awards are organized to raise social awareness on the significant role of the media on the frontline, leading the discussion of human rights issues, and to show solidarity with the media so that they stand strong in their fight to uphold and promote human rights. Amnesty International Thailand has called on all sectors to respect the role of the media and to ensure they receive protection and are free from intimidation and harassment.

In closing, Piyanut Kotsan, Director of Amnesty International Thailand, thanked the media, the most important persons in today’s event for helping to mobilize and function as a channel to support the struggle to protect human rights and to engender correct understanding in the public until now and in the future.

The AIT Chair said that the jury for the Human Rights Media Awards 2021 is composed of experts from mass media and human rights. The full list of awardees is:

Outstanding media in the category of news and feature stories

  • “People Living in the Forest? The Bang Kloi Karen Farewell and Journey to Return Home” from Sarakadee Magazine

Honourable mention in the category of online news and feature stories

  • “Path to Why the Torture-Enforced Disappearance Bill Matters” from Daily News

Outstanding media in the category of online news and feature stories

  • “What Happened to Wanchalearm?” from Prachatai

Honourable mentions in the category of online news and feature stories

  • “Children’s Fate, Mother’s heart: 112 and the Undoing of a Family” from The 101.World
  • “WE NEVER KNOW WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS:’ COVID STRANDS THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES IN THAILAND” from Khaosod English
  • “Commoners of the Din Daeng Battlefield: Vengeance, Anger, Talugaz” from Voice TV
  • “The Loss of the Winner: Klity Village after the Final Judgment, When the River Is Still Tainted” from WAY Magazine

Outstanding media in the category of broadcast news and feature stories (not longer than 20 minutes)

  • “Vaccine to Enhance the Immunity of Citizens” from Workpoint TV

Honourable mention in the category of broadcast news and feature stories (not longer than 20 minutes)

  • “The Effects of Karen Asylum Seekers on the Thailand-Myanmar Border in Mae Hong Son” from PPTV HD 36

Outstanding media in the category of news and feature stories via TV show (not longer than 60 minutes)

  • “Hidden world in Yaowarat” Kon Jon Mueng, Thai PBS

Honourable mention in the category of news and feature stories via TV show (not longer than 60 minutes)

  • “Welfare (not) for every child” from San Tang Ton, PPTV HD 36
  • “Escape from Death” from Perd Pom, Thai PBS
  • “Mani-Jahai: Life at Risk” from Perd Pom, Thai PBS

Honourable mentions in the category of news and feature stories via online video clip

  • “Red Scar” from Prachatai
  • “Uncle Don Katepuek: Journalist - Citizen - Democracy | Life Dedicated to be Citizen Journalist” from URBAN CREATURE
  • “Children Charged: How Do Children’s Rights Work Under Political Prosecution” WorkpointTODAY
  • “3 Moms of Ratsadon Prisoners of Conscience Join Talufah March to Abolish Article 112” from BBC Thai 
  • “‘I would like to go home’: When the Only Home for Bang Kloi Karen is Chai Phaen Din” from The MATTER

Honourable mentions on “Life amidst Covid-19 crisis through human rights lens” photo contest for youth category

  • Ms Sawita Punsathian
  • Mr Sulaiman Tanyong-utong
  • Ms Supassara Hadsai
  • Mr Trai Sitthisena 
  • Ms Sawita Punsathian

Popular vote in this category

  • Mr Trai Sitthisena 

Outstanding award on “Life amidst Covid-19 crisis through human rights lens” photo contest for general public category

  • Mr Patipat Janthong

Honourable mentions on “Life amidst Covid-19 crisis through human rights lens” photo contest for general public category

  • Mr Suppanut Rattanathanaprasan
  • Mr Seksan Rochanametakul
  • Mr Chumnanwut Sukum
  • Mr Nattaphon Phanphongsanon 

Popular vote in this category

  • Mr Chattapat Suwanyuha

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