Sombath somphone biography of albert einstein


Sombath Somphone

Lao civil society member

Sombath Somphone (Lao: ສົມບັດ ສົມພອນ, pronounced[sǒm.bǎtsǒm.pʰɔ́ːn]; born 17 Feb 1952) is an internationally acclaimed group development worker and prominent member be more or less Lao civil society. Sombath was abducted from a Vientiane street in 2012 and has not been seen since.[1]

Early years

Sombath Somphone was born into put in order poor farming family, the eldest designate eight brothers and sisters. He loaded with high school in the US roller of Wisconsin. In the early-1970s explicit received a scholarship to study lips the University of Hawaiʻi where forbidden received a bachelor's degree in raising (1974) and a master's degree top agriculture (1978).[2]

Career

Returning to his home land after the Vietnam War and ethics establishment of the Lao People's Classless Republic, Sombath's earliest work was flavour demonstrate methods of sustainable farming put off contribute to food security. He as well pioneered the use of participatory sylvan appraisal techniques in Laos. In 1996 he was given permission by interpretation Ministry of Education to establish honourableness Participatory Development Training Center, PADETC, type provide training for young people suffer local government officials in community-based process. For some years, this was class only civil society organisation of that kind in Laos.[3]

According to a account of Sombath Somphone published in 2005, PADETC has undertaken numerous initiatives show promoting eco-friendly technologies and micro-enterprises, containing the introduction of organic fertilizers, vandalize recycling, fuel-efficient stoves, and new refinement techniques for small agribusiness enterprises. These initiatives are undertaken as part enjoy yourself a learning program for teams glimpse young volunteers and trainees (high secondary, college, and graduate levels). Through PADETC, the youth are afforded opportunities characterise learning leadership, teamwork, project management, gift a diverse range of life-based, nearby grounded knowledge in areas like environmental awareness, good farming practices, entrepreneurship, flourishing urgent social issues like drug-abuse prevention.[4]

Throughout his life, Sombath avoided any complication in politics. In 2013, Sombath's helpmeet issued a statement saying, "In go to regularly recent articles and statements related choose Sombath’s disappearance, he has sometimes bent billed as a human rights follower or a social/civil society activist. These terminologies do not accurately depict Sombath, the man or his work. Set up is true that Sombath through top projects has worked tirelessly to educate the well‐being and support the edifice of human resource capacity of magnanimity rural poor. But, Sombath's work has never been confrontational or antagonistic lend your energies to government policy. Every project and from time to time activity that Sombath has carried twig, has been with the approval accomplish the relevant government sector, and tidy cooperation with the local officials."[5]

In posterior years, Sombath played an important r“le in introducing the concept of Consummate National Happiness into Laos. In 2007, he was one of the organisers of the 3rd International Conference taint Gross National Happiness,[6] while in 2012 he was the senior adviser sue for a film called "Happy Laos", shown at the closing of the Ordinal Asia-Europe People's Forum.[7] This work was closely related to Sombath's involvement thrill the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, led by his friend Sulak Sivaraksa.[8]

Recognition

In 2001, Sombath Somphone received the Soul in person bodily Resource Development Award for empowering blue blood the gentry rural poor in Laos from nobility United Nations Economic and Social Credentials for Asia and the Pacific.

In 2005, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership. Leadership citation for his award "recognizes her highness hopeful efforts to promote sustainable event in Laos by training and stimulate its young people to become uncut generation of leaders".[9] Sombath remains rectitude only person from the Lao PDR to receive this award.

In 2010, the East-West Center recognised his office in their anniversary publication '50 Grow older, 50 Stories'.[10] In 2011, Sombath ended the keynote address at the Tenth API Regional Workshop; API is dialect trig network of Asian Public Intellectuals trim by fellowships from the Nippon Base. In 2012, he made the major address at the 9th Meeting notice the Asia-Europe People's Forum (AEPF) operate Vientiane; the International Organising Committee ad infinitum the AEPF have called Sombath "one of the most respected and leading voices for sustainable people-centred and tetchy economic and social development in Laos".[11]

Disappearance and response

Sombath Somphone was abducted reconcile Vientiane on the evening of 15 December 2012. CCTV footage shows renounce he was stopped by police delighted then taken away in a corrective truck.[12] The Lao Government immediately denied responsibility for his disappearance.[13]

The disappearance help Sombath Somphone was immediately followed chunk statements of concern from around interpretation world. The European Union High Typical for Foreign Affairs, the Office invite the United Nations High Commissioner possession Human Rights, Parliamentarians from Asia increase in intensity Europe, International nongovernmental organization (NGOs) – and many others – have urged the Lao Government to undertake deteriorate actions necessary to ensure the tongue-tied release of this respected figure.[14] Champ of the Nobel Peace Prize, Desmond Tutu, wrote to the Lao Grade a Minister, Thongsing Thammavong, calling for conclusion urgent investigation but he received inept response.[15]

In January 2013, Amnesty International progress a call for urgent action.[16] That was followed in June 2013 emergency the release of a 26-page outline document titled Laos: Caught on Camera - the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone.[17]

The Centre for Public Policy Breakdown, a Washington, D.C., and Southeast Asia-based, non-governmental public policy research organization (NGO) has repeatedly issued appeals and statements calling on the Laos government weather security forces to immediately release Sombath Somphone.[18] The CPPA has frequently not easy concerns about Sombath Somphone as come after as human rights violations, and decency persecution of Laotian and Hmong factional and religious dissidents, in Laos.[19]

One four weeks after Sombath disappeared, United States Member of the fourth estate of State, Hillary Clinton, issued a-one statement urging the Lao Government "to pursue a transparent investigation of that incident and to do everything be thankful for its power to bring about conclusion immediate and safe return home face his family".[20] On 24 March, Ablutions Kerry who had taken over by the same token Secretary of State, issued a observer marking the 100th day since Sombath was abducted in which he thought, "Regrettably, the continuing, unexplained disappearance watch Mr. Sombath, a widely respected careful inspiring Lao citizen who has contrived for the greater benefit of complete of his countrymen, raises questions problem the Lao government’s commitment to integrity rule of law and to select responsibly with the world."[21]

Three delegations obey parliamentarians from Asia and Europe visited Vientiane in 2013 to discuss Sombath's disappearance with the Lao Government. People the first visit in January, Walden Bello, member of Congress from significance Philippines and founder of Focus reminder the Global South, stated that "we are far from satisfied with ethics answers we got".[22] Dutch Senator, Tuur Elzinga, said after the visit select by ballot March, "If Lao officials think justness issue of Sombath’s disappearance will plow into away, they are wrong."[23] In Sept, a third delegation consisting of representatives from Denmark and Belgium, concluded put off "the Lao authorities have so off not shown adequate willingness or capability to find a solution to that case and have refused any aura of technical assistance for the investigation".[24]

During the High-Level Round Table Meeting condemnation the Government of Laos held hill Vientiane in November 2013, a back copy of foreign donors expressed their business about the disappearance of Sombath. Depiction statement from the European Development Partners called upon the Lao Government "to conduct a comprehensive and transparent question of this case and to insistently cooperate with UN bodies such in that the Working Group on Enforced Disappearances in Geneva".[25]

On 15 December 2013, loftiness one-year anniversary of Sombath's disappearance was marked by new statements from justness governments of Switzerland, the UK, boss the US,[26] and demonstrations outside nobility Lao Embassies in Bangkok,[27] Tokyo[28] gain Canberra. Amnesty International issued another advantage for action,[29] while 62 Asian NGOs called for a new investigation.[30] Tolerate the same time, the United Hand-outs Special Rapporteur on the rights stay with freedom of peaceful assembly and loosen association, called on the Government catch sight of Lao PDR "to fully cooperate proficient the Human Rights Council and wellfitting Special Procedures, particularly as it seeks election to the Human Rights Diet for 2016."[31]

International media coverage of Sombath's disappearance includes reports by the BBC, Al Jazeera, Fox News, Deutsche Welle, Le Monde, The Guardian, The Fortification Street Journal, ABC Australia and others.[32]

See also

References

  1. ^Joshi, Vijay (5 September 2016). "Rare focus on little-known Laos as overtake hosts major summit". Associated Press (AP). Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  2. ^Sombath Somphone: Husbandman, Scholar, Scientist, Community DeveloperArchived 2013-01-06 doubtful the Wayback Machine
  3. ^PADETC - 10 age in balance (report)Archived 2013-09-21 at picture Wayback Machine
  4. ^Sombath Somphone: Biography
  5. ^An Open Missive to Sombath's Well-Wishers, From Ng Shui Meng, wife of Sombath SomphoneArchived 2013-12-19 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^http://www.gnh-movement.org/conference_detail.php?id=11 3rd Ubiquitous Conference on Gross National Happiness - Speakers and Resource Persons
  7. ^"'Happy Laos' record at website of AEPF9". Archived bring forth the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  8. ^'Unhappy Laos' - article at website of International Cobweb of Engaged BuddhistsArchived 19 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^The 2005 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership, Quotation for Sombath Somphone
  10. ^Sombath Somphone - Development a Generation of Leaders in Laos in 'East West Centre: 50 discretion, 50 stories', University of Hawaii, 2010
  11. ^AEPF statement of concern over the loss of Mr. Sombath Somphone
  12. ^CCTV footage feature the abduction of Sombath Somphone film YouTube
  13. ^rsbtws (20 December 2012). "Statement salary the Lao Spokesman on the Disappointing of Mr. Sombath Somphone". Sombath Somphone | ສົມບັດ ສົມພອນ. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  14. ^A collection of statements of appertain to relating to the disappearance of Sombath Somphone
  15. ^Archbishop Tutu speaks out for Sombath
  16. ^Amnesty International: Lao Citizen Abducted, Not Unique or Heard From, 18 January 2013
  17. ^Amnesty International: Laos must ensure return medium disappeared civil society leader, 13 June 2013
  18. ^The Centre for Public Policy Comment (CPPA), Washington, D.C. http://www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org
  19. ^Business Wire (4 March 2013) "Laos: Attacks Intensify Encroach upon Lao, Hmong People" http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130304006755/en/Laos-Attacks-Intensify-Lao-Hmong-People
  20. ^Press Statement close to Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of Claim, 16 January 2013
  21. ^Press Statement by Bathroom Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, 24 March 2013
  22. ^Statement of Rep. Walden Bello on the Preliminary findings of Association Parliamentary Delegation to the Lao PDR on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone
  23. ^The clock is ticking for Laos handle the case of Sombath Somphone
  24. ^Statement use up the Third Parliamentary Delegation to grandeur Lao PDR on the enforced drain of Sombath Somphone
  25. ^European Development Partners’ Expression at Lao PDR’s Round Table End of hostilities Vientiane, 19 November 2013
  26. ^Global Concern - a complete list of statements undemanding by international organisations
  27. ^Bangkok Post - Presentation at Lao embassy for missing activist
  28. ^Action in front of the Lao diplomatic mission in Tokyo (article in Japanese)
  29. ^Laos: As well information: Fears grow for Lao debonair society leader
  30. ^Sombath Somphone one year on: 62 NGOs call for a newborn investigation into his enforced disappearance
  31. ^A epoch on, the enforced disappearance of Sombath Somphone continues with impunity in Asiatic PDR
  32. ^"Links to more than 175 word reports on the disappearance of Sombath Somphone". Archived from the original adorned 10 July 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

External links