Rights groups call for release of 3 detained activists in Hong Kong, Thailand

Two human rights groups have called for the immediate release of three detained activists - Chow Hang-tung from Hong Kong and Thai activists Arnon Nampa and Jatupat Boonpattararaksa - in a joint statement. The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the Network of Laureates of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights argue that the detentions reflect a crisis of democracy in Asia.

Jatupat and Arnon, both recipients of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights in 2017 and 2021 respectively, are currently detained in Thailand, while Chow, a 2023 laureate, is held in Hong Kong. The groups express solidarity with activists defending democracy and human rights in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Myanmar despite facing violence, imprisonment, and restrictions on basic rights.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.