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Press Release

Dr Binayak Sen wins 2011 Gwangju Prize For Human Rights

Dr Binayak Sen, recently released from a Raipur prison on bail by the Supreme Court, has won the 2011 Gwangju Prize For Human Rights, South Korea’s most prestigious award for those working on peace, democracy and justice issues in Asia.

The Award was announced on Thursday 21^st April by the 2011 Gwangju Prize Committee in Seoul, South Korea.

The Prize which carries a sum of 50,000 US dollars is awarded each May 18 on the anniversary of the May 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising to a person or organization who has made significant contributions in the field of human rights and democracy. The Prize has been constituted to carry on the spirit of the May 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, which inspired the entire transformation of South Korea from a military dictatorship till the mid-eighties to a thriving democracy today.

The 2011 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights this year received 32 nominations from countries all around Asia. Xanana Gusmao, the leader of the East Timore struggle for independence was the first awardee of the Gwangju Prize when it was launched in 2000 while Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi won it in 2004. Irom Sharmila, the Manipuri human rights activist is also a previous Indian winner of the Gwangju Prize.

Given below is the Award Statement of the jury, which selected the Gwangju Prize winner:

Binayak Sen, as an accomplished medical practitioner has distinguished himself by his devotion to providing health services for the poor and by his strong advocacy against human rights violations and structural violence inflicted on the poor in Chhattisgarh, a state in central India. Apart from that, he has also been active in the People’s Union for Civil Liberties documenting human rights violations occurring during the anti-Naxalite conflict.

Binayak Sen has demonstrated through his life’s work his steadfast commitment to victims of human rights violations who have been struggling against state violence, as a result of which he was imprisoned, under the special security act of the Indian authorities, in May 2007. Amnesty International has labeled him as a prisoner of conscience, as Binayak Sen’s case highlights the many human rights violations, which derive from abuse of the security laws in India.

Despite the determined efforts of 45 Nobel Laureates and of global civil society campaigning on his behalf, he was given a life sentence by order of the court in December 2010. However on 18thApril 2011, he was released on bail by the Supreme Court. Indeed, it was very good news to hear of his release on bail by the Supreme Court though it is also difficult to say how the final decision will be made by the Indian justice system. We are very much concerned about the sentence, as he has been dedicating his whole life to the poor.

India on the other hand, is a rising country, which has been making progress in economic development, and whose population is becoming more than 1.1billion. India’s progress has given hope to many Asian countries as a leading country which escaped the long time shadow of colonization. The human rights situation in India, however, fails to reach the expectations of global society.

We sincerely believe that this prize may become the opportunity to cherish the memory of activists everywhere who are under the pressure of state violence, including Irom Sharmila, and therefore, the committee’s aspiration as expressed in the awarding of this year’s prize to Binayak Sen also reaches from Asia to the Middle East region, which is spreading out its hope for democratization as a path to realizing human rights and peace.

The jury of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, which gives the Gwangju Prize, also selected the Parents Circle Families Forum - Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace as the winner of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Special Award. PCFF, made up of over 500 bereaved families in 1995, has undertaken great efforts in the midst of ongoing violence to transform their incredible loss and pain into reconciliation and peace, the jury said.

For further information in South Korea Contact:

Mr Adam Breasley (International Staff), Mr Kim Chanho (Director), Ms Lynn Jeong (Assistant Director)
Culture & Solidarity Team, The May 18 Memorial Foundation
Email: adambreasley gmail.com; Website: www.518.org/eng
5.18 Memorial Culture Hall, Seo-gu Sangmudong 1268
Postcode 502-260, Gwangju, South Korea

IN INDIA CONTACT:
DR P.ZACHARIAH: PH- 099442607116 (Vellore) or HARSH DHOBAL (New Delhi) or SATYA SIVARAMAN (New Delhi) or Vivek Sundara(Mumbai)