Laotian activist who survived deadly shooting at point blank in his face and chest, has left the country. His assassination attempt came, after he’s known to be very critical of the authoritarian Laotian government.
Anousa “Jack” Luangsuphum’s family initially claimed he had been killed, out of concern that gunman would return, knowing he survived the attack. Activists later claimed he was still alive and in a hospital getting well. Human Rights Attorney Emilie Palamy Pradichit, disclosed Anousa’s medical evacuation from Laos was paid for by an internet appeal for funds to support his hospital care.
Anousa’s advocate, Ms. Palamy Pradichit of Manushya Foundation, a civil rights organization, stated that, he has had surgery to reconstruct his face and extract a bullet from his chest. She added, Anousa is now recovering at a secret location, and he is now conscious and able to communicate through writing.
However, because he no longer feels comfortable inside the nation, Ms. Palamy Pradichit stated that she was unable to confirm whether he will make a return.
The incident on April 30th was attributed by Laotian officials to a private or business disagreement. However, the blogger’s pals think that, a covert police officer was assigned to kill him since he was one of the few loud advocates in the nation.
Anousa managed two Facebook pages, that had frequent conversations on issues like corruption and pollution and advocated for increased civil rights in the authoritarian one-party regime in Laos.
A man in brown hat was seen entering the café in Vientiane, according to security camera footage that was widely distributed following the attack. The attacker appears to confirm Jack’s presence, before taking a gun out of his pant waistline to shoot. Anousa was inside a café that evening with three of his pals, who also happened to own the café, Ms. Pradichit claimed.
After the attack, Anousa’s friend went to see him at a local hospital after witnessing the attack. The police was then said to have questioned all three of them. Since then, they’ve all reportedly fled into hiding out of concern for state retaliation. The Facebook page for the café has been taken down.
Similarities have been drawn between the attempted murder of Anousa and the disappearance of Sombath Somphone. Somphone was prominent political activist, who went missing ten years ago without a trace. There has been growing concern that, much has not changed, and more activists may suffer similar attacks in the coming months.
“I believe that Anousa’s life is definitely in danger after leaving Laos,” Ms. Palamy said. “Transitional repression of Lao dissidents is real, and a growing phenomenon. In recent years, Lao democracy activists have disappeared or have been found killed in neighboring countries, such as Thailand,” Ms. Palamy averred. She cites the case of Od Sayavong, a Laotian activist who vanished in 2019 while seeking asylum in Thailand.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have supported the request for an independent investigation into the attempted murder of the Anousa Luangsuphom.
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