The Komol Kheemthong Foundation, on its 32nd anniversary on Wednesday, named consumer-rights activist Saree Ong-somwang, peace advocate Naree Charoenpholpiriya, and Angkhana Neelaphaijit, wife of missing Muslim lawyer Somchai, as "honorary persons" in recognition of their work and efforts to create a better society.

The foundation also hailed Soraya Jamjuree, a Muslim woman from Pattani, who was invited to be the keynote speaker at its function this week.

The Komol Kheemthong Foundation, set up in 1973, has selected "honorary persons" every year to promote the ideal of being socially involved. Those named "honorary persons" in previous years include Dr Puey Ungpakorn, Phra Phaisal Visalo and Rosana Tositrakul.

Saree, 43, was praised for her work over almost two decades to protect the rights of consumers and patients.

Saree, a former nurse who turned to work for a non-government organisation. She founded the Foundation for Consum-ers in 1989 and  played a vital role in the fight for people's right to access medicine and medical treatment.

Naree, a member of the National Reconciliation Committee was praised for her work to promote peace in society.

Over the past decade, Naree has promoted non-violence and peace education programmes to deal with social conflicts. She designed a peace training programme for the authorities, social workers and villagers. To help promote peace in the deep South, Naree initiated a project to bring Muslim and Buddhist women together, to help heal trauma caused by the loss of loved ones in the civil strife.

Angkhana, wife of Somchai, the human-rights lawyer abducted by the authorities in March 2004, was recognised for her struggle against ill treatment in the justice system, and seeking the truth about her husband's disappearance.

Soraya has played an important role via community radio to promote better understanding among people of different languages, religions and cultures in the three southernmost provinces.

Subhatra Bhumiprabhas

The Nation