Venerable Luon Sovath at WITNESS' 6th Annual Focus for Change Gala
By Ryan Schlief
Blog.witness.org
June 28th, 2011
Human Rights Watch has awarded a prestigious Hellman/Hammett grant to the Venerable Loun Sovath for his human rights defender work supporting communities facing forced evictions and land-grabbing in Cambodia. On Monday I posted about the ongoing threats against Venerable Sovath along with a video produced by our partner LICADHO where the Venerable responds to these threats. Hopefully, broader recognition of communities struggling for housing and land rights and the Venerable Sovath’s work supporting them, will deter the authorities from any further threats and intimidation against him.
The Hellman/Hammett grants, awarded annually, recognize and provide financial assistance to persons around the world for their commitment to free expression and courage in the face of political persecution.
More about LICADHO and the Venerable Loun Sovath
Since 2009, our partner organization in Cambodia, LICADHO, has been using video to document forced evictions and land-grabbing. We met the Venerable Loun Sovath, a Buddhist monk, through our work with LICADHO. His tireless campaigning for those at risk of forced eviction in Cambodia, has repeatedly put him at risk. Read more about the Venerable’s work in my previous post.
5 comments:
Great job. This monk lives by example. He practice what he preaches. I hope he doesnt get use for political agenda for SRP.
True hero for the Cambodian villagers.
He is sincere hero for poor villagers. He doesnt have any political agenda. He just want to help poor Cambodia if means risking his life.
Congratulation to him. All Cambodian monks must follow Ven. Savath's example.
Imagine, if Cambodia has monk movement to help poor Cambodian? If it happens, Ven. Savath probably can organize all monks to do that. Just monks movement not ordinary citizens. It has to be non threatening ways; they can do non violence protesting and they can be advocate everywhere as they see unjustly done. They can do humanitarian assistant where there is natural disaster, helping build schools, helping with clean water etc. Dont involve in any political party. I bet you, that the movement will have the most holly power that you never see before. I would also warned; the minute they get involve in political party; their credibility will be gone too. If monk can create movement so pure like that; it will be the most powerful advocate group in Cambodia.
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