AAPP co-founder Bo Kyi named 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award laureate

Bo Kyi in an April 2021 campaign photo calling for the release of political prisoner Wai Moe Naing, a pro-democracy activist who was arrested in Monywa Township, Sagaing Region on April 15, 2021. (Credit: Bo Kyi)

Bo Kyi, co-founder and joint secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), was selected as one of three recipients of the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation announced on Monday.

Award recognition and AAPP history

• Dedication of Honor: Dedicating the award to the people of Myanmar fighting injustice, Bo Kyi paid tribute to political prisoners who continue to resist behind bars.

• 8888 Uprising & Imprisonment: Arrested in March 1990 for his role in the August 1988 “8888 Uprising” pro-democracy protests, Bo Kyi served seven years in prison before his release in 1997.

• Founding of AAPP: Fleeing to Thailand following his release, Bo Kyi co-founded the AAPP on March 23, 2000, alongside fellow ex-political prisoners to track incarcerations and advocate for detainee rights.