Laos: Prominent young activist murdered in café

2023-05-03T16:54:42.825Z

Highlights: Anousa "Jack" Luangsuphom was killed in cold blood at close range by a bullet to the head and chest. The killing scene, which was broadcast online by state media, sparked a wave of emotion on social media and outrage from human rights defenders. Police are searching for suspects but refusing to comment on the investigation. A long list of government critics and human rights or environmental defenders have been targeted in recent years and have been subjected to intimidation, attacks or imprisonment. At least ten cases of disappearances of activists have never been solved.

A well-known political activist, administrator of a Facebook page that regularly posted criticism of the Lao government, was shot dead in a café in the capital Vientiane on 29 April.

Laos: Prominent young activist murdered in café

Aerial view of the north of Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Source: Wikipedia; photo: (CC) Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

A prominent political activist who ran a Facebook page that regularly posted criticism of the Lao government was shot dead in a café in the capital Vientiane on 29 April. The killing scene, which was broadcast online by state media, sparked a wave of emotion on social media and outrage from human rights defenders, who are urging the Lao authorities to open an investigation.

Advertising

Anousa "Jack" Luangsuphom was only 25 years old. He was killed in cold blood at close range by a bullet to the head and chest. The scene, filmed by the security cameras of a café in the district of Chanthabuly, in Vientiane, took place Saturday, April 29 at 22:39.

The footage shows the gunman, dressed in a brown shirt and black cap, first briefly entering to identify his target. He uses a handkerchief to open the door and leave no traces, pulls out his handgun, enters the café again and shoots, before fleeing. The victim died on the way to the hospital.

The cold-blooded killing of a prominent young political activist in downtown Vientiane sends a spine-chilling message that no one in Laos who criticizes the government is safe. New from @hrw https://t.co/fVo6u6hSZX pic.twitter.com/WJviP4ESIi

— Elaine Pearson (@PearsonElaine) May 3, 2023

According to the official news agency, police are searching for suspects but refusing to comment on the investigation. According to NGOs, this murder sends a very worrying message about freedom of expression in Laos. A long list of government critics and human rights or environmental defenders have been targeted in recent years and have been subjected to intimidation, attacks or imprisonment. At least ten cases of disappearances of activists have never been solved.

Laos: Prominent young activist murdered in café

Laos: Prominent young activist murdered in café

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest