Five southern Thais among eight women honoured
Five Buddhist and Muslim women who have worked to promote peace in the deep South are among eight activists and social workers chosen to receive honours on International Women's Day today.
Naree Charoenpolpiriya, Lamai Manakarn and Mariam Sa-moh were selected as "Outstanding Women in Promoting Peace in the Three Southernmost Provinces" by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security while Soraya Jamjuree and Angkhana Neelaphaijit are being honoured as "Women Human Rights Defenders" by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Naree is a Buddhist who helped found the Women's Network for Peace to support Muslim women who had lost husbands, sons or brothers to the violence in the South. Mariam has been taking care of orphans of the victims while Lamai has been coordinating assistance for the families of those killed in the Tak Bai incident. Meanwhile, the NHRC is paying tribute to Soraya for her work to promote understanding among people of different languages and cultures in the South through her community radio programme. Soraya has also worked with the Women's Network for Peace to help women deal with the trauma of losing their men in the violence. Angkhana Neelaphaijit, wife of abducted human rights lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit, is being acknowledged for her role in supporting Muslim widows in the deep South to fight for their rights to family assets under Islamic Law. The other three women honoured by the NHRC are anti-corruption activist Rosana Tositrakul, media reform activist Supinya Klangnarong and See Sae-lee, a Mong who has struggled for gender equality in her community for decades. Unlike the other high-profile names being recognised by the human rights commission, See has carried out her work virtually unnoticed by the public in remote communities in the hills in Chiang Rai's Khun Tan district. While fighting for human dignity as well as for the traditional way of life of the Mong to be recognised in Thai society, See has also struggled against the traditional Mong beliefs and culture that disadvantage women in the home. The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is holding its award presentation ceremony at the Queen Sirikit Convention Centre today while the NHRC will present its on Friday at its headquarters. Subhatra Bhumiprabhas The Nation
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