Today I stand before you humbled and also a little sad that it is I who is here to receive this Special Award for Human Rights on behalf of my husband, Sombath Somphone. It would have been such a happy occasion, and such an honor, if Sombath could be here to receive this award himself. Unfortunately, circumstances do not allow it. Sombath was disappeared…
…Sombath always says that development and progress cannot be guided only by technical knowledge and science alone. Development and progress must be underpinned by spiritual values – values of compassion, kindness, respect of all life (human and animal) and respect for nature.
From remarks by Shui Meng Ng in accepting the 2015 Special Award from the May 15 Memorial Foundation.
My speech at the award ceremony of the Kwangju 2015 Special Prize for Human Rights for Sombath Somphone.