Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The fight for political prisoners in Myanmar is one of the central themes of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award, given by the homonymous foundation named after the late Philippine president, which is considered Asia's Nobel Prize.
One of this year's three laureates announced today is Myanmar’s Bo Kyi, the exiled founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), joined in receiving the prestigious award on 15 November by Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh and Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Runa Khan.
A former political prisoner and pro-democracy activist, Bo Kyi has dedicated much of his life to documenting the military regime's repression and supporting those imprisoned for their political beliefs and their families in Myanmar, a country that has lived under the weight of military rule for decades.
Since the February 2021 coup, more than 30,000 people have been arrested, half of whom are still in prison.
In 1988, while still a student at Rangoon Arts and Sciences University, Bo Kyi witnessed the killing of other students and participated in the pro-democracy protests of 8 August, which went down in history as the 8888 movement.
His involvement in those demonstrations earned him two arrests and a total of seven years in prison. Even while in prison, he continued to study and oppose the regime. Deprived of his books, he learnt English by writing on the floor of his cell with a piece of brick and taking lessons from a professor held in another cell.
When the authorities attempted to recruit him as an informant, he refused to cooperate, instead calling for the release of political prisoners and the opening of talks with Aung San Suu Kyi.
After his second release, Bo Kyi fled to Thailand in 1998. Two years later, in Mae Sot, he founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) with other former political prisoners.
The organisation has been committed to documenting political arrests and detentions, supporting prisoners and their families, and raising international awareness of repression in Myanmar.
For the AAPP, the release of political prisoners is not only a humanitarian issue, but a necessary condition for building democracy, reconciliation, and stability in the country.
Tommy Koh, a Singaporean diplomat and international law scholar, is best known for his role in the negotiations that led to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
His contributions also extended to the academic world; in fact, he participated in the construction of the Institute of Policy Studies, the Center for International Law, and Tembusu College at the National University of Singapore.
His work is held up as an example of how knowledge and progress take on deeper meaning when shared and put at the service of the community.
From Bangladesh, Runa Khan was recognised for developing a floating hospital capable of using the country's vast river network to directly deliver healthcare to the most difficult-to-reach communities.
From this experience, Friendship was born, a non-governmental organisation committed to building partnerships for the social benefit of all.
His approach is based on the idea that bringing a service closer to people does not just mean bridging geographical distances, but also ensuring everyone's right to be treated with dignity, regardless of where they live.
Established in 1957, the Ramon Magsaysay Award annually honours individuals and organisations that embody selfless service to Asian peoples, regardless of race, gender, or religion.
Through their stories, the honourees demonstrate how community service can be transformed into concrete solutions to meet the great challenges of human development.
