Honors and Awards Recognizing Arnon Nampa — Human Rights Lawyer and Activist Sentenced to Over 22 Years in Prison

On 22 May 2025, Arnon Nampa, a human rights lawyer and political activist, was awarded the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk by the organization Front Line Defenders. The award recognizes his courageous work in defending and promoting human rights, despite facing significant personal risk.

This marks the fifth award Arnon has received in recognition of his advocacy, comprising three international honors and two national awards. On this occasion, we take a moment to revisit and reflect on the accolades he has earned to date.

Jarupong Thongsin Award for Democracy – Presented by the Thammasat University Student Council (2020)

On October 6, 2020, the Thammasat University Student Council presented the Jarupong Thongsin Award for Democracy to Arnon Nampa and Panupong Jadnok during the 44th anniversary commemoration of the October 6, 1976 massacre. The award honors their courage in the struggle for democracy.

The Jarupong Thongsin Award for Democracy is given by the Thammasat University Student Council to activists who advocate for and defend democratic principles. It is named in honor of Jarupong Thongsin, a former Thammasat student and one of the victims of the 6 October 1976 massacre.

Gwangju Prize for Human Rights – Awarded by the May 18 Memorial Foundation (2021)

On 14 January 2021, the May 18 Memorial Foundation (also known as 518기념재단), a South Korean human rights organization, announced Arnon Nampa as the recipient of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights for that year. He was recognized for his courageous resistance against the authoritarian regime in Thailand that used violence against peaceful protesters, particularly for his legal work defending individuals charged under Section 112 (lèse majesté) of the Thai Criminal Code. Arnon’s dedication to defending political protesters led to repeated violations of his own rights and freedoms by the state.

The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights is awarded annually to democracy and human rights advocates around the world. It commemorates the Gwangju Uprising of May 1980, when South Koreans bravely rose up against military dictatorship.

At the time the award was announced, however, Arnon was detained in prison, having been denied bail in political cases. As a result, he was unable to attend the ceremony in person. He eventually traveled to South Korea to receive the award and participate in related events in May 2023, after being granted bail and receiving court permission to leave the country.

One of TIME’s “100 Emerging Leaders Shaping the Future” – TIME Magazine, USA (2021)

On 17 February 2021, TIME magazine, the renowned U.S. weekly news publication, named Arnon Nampa as one of the TIME100 Next, a list recognizing 100 emerging leaders shaping the future across various fields. Arnon was honored in the “Leaders” category.

In its feature, TIME highlighted Arnon’s role in empowering Thailand’s younger generation, particularly through his calls for reform of the monarchy institution and the military-drafted constitution. His activism led to his arrest and criminal charges, occurring amid a wave of unprecedented youth-led protests—the largest since the 2014 military coup.

Person of the Year – Social Movement Category, Thailand Zocial Awards (2021)

On 8 April 2021, Arnon Nampa was named Person of the Year in the Social Movement category at the Thailand Zocial Awards 2021.

The Thailand Zocial Awards are organized by Wisesight (Thailand) Co., Ltd., a leading social media analytics firm. The awards aim to recognize the growing influence of the social media landscape in shaping Thailand’s economy and society. They also promote creative and responsible use of social media by honoring outstanding individuals and organizations across various sectors.

Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk – Front Line Defenders (2025)

On 22 May 2025, Front Line Defenders awarded Arnon Nampa the Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk for the Asia-Pacific region. He was recognized for his courageous work as a human rights lawyer, promoting and protecting human rights despite facing serious personal risk.

The Front Line Defenders Award honors the outstanding work of human rights defenders (HRDs) who, in the face of danger and threats to their personal safety, continue to stand up for fundamental freedoms. The award seeks to bring national and international attention to their efforts and the challenges they face—including harassment, imprisonment, and violence—as a result of their activism. It also provides a platform for HRDs to amplify their ongoing human rights work.

However, Arnon was once again unable to receive the award in person, as he has been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison since 26 September 2023. As of 23 May 2025, he has been in prison for 606 days.

Since Arnon Nampa began his political activism with the Resistant Citizens group during the NCPO (National Council for Peace and Order) era, he has faced a total of 38 legal cases related to protests and political expression—11 of which have already concluded. Among these are 14 cases under Section 112 (lèse majesté) of the Thai Criminal Code .

To date, Arnon has been convicted in seven Section 112 cases at the court of first instance. If the sentences across all pending cases are combined, he faces a total prison term of 20 years, 25 months, and 20 days—equivalent to just over 22 years. However, all of these cases are currently under appeal.

Throughout his detention, Arnon and his legal team have persistently sought bail to allow him to fight his cases from outside prison. As of now, they have filed 58 bail applications across all cases—none of which have been granted by the court.

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