Kavi Chongkittavorn honoured with Democracy Award

2007 Democracy Award to Spotlight Press Freedom

Activists from Egypt, Thailand, Russia and Venezuela will be honored by NED on September 18

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 18, 2007, the National Endowment for Democracy will present its annual Democracy Award to an organization and three individuals who have bravely contributed to increasing and preserving press freedom and independent media in Egypt, Southeast Asia, Venezuela, and Russia.

"A free press is a critical ingredient for any democracy," said National Endowment for Democracy Chairman Vin Weber. "In countries with little or limited press freedom, independent journalists and activists committed to providing citizens with honest news and information often find themselves in the vanguard of the struggle for democracy, sometimes with their lives on the line. This year's Democracy Award calls attention to the courage of those journalists who risk so much."

The four recipients of the 2007 Democracy Award are:

Hisham Kassem, one of Egypt's most prominent publishers and democracy activists, he was until recently the publisher of Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt's first independent daily paper. He was also Vice President of the opposition Hizb Al-Ghad Party.

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS) – Venezuela is a press freedom monitoring group established in 2002 during a period of growing concern about the state of press freedom of expression in Venezuela. It has become an authoritative voice on freedom of expression issues in Venezuela, and is a point of reference for journalists, academics and human rights defenders. Ewald Scharfenberg, director of IPYS – Venezuela, will accept the award on the organization's behalf.

Kavi Chongkittavorn is a tireless campaigner for press freedom throughout Southeast Asia, and worldwide. A journalist for more than 20 years, he is the assistant group editor of Nation Media Group, publisher of The Nation, Krungthep Turakij and Kom Chat Luek in Thailand.

Anna Politkovskaya, the courageous reporter for the Moscow newspaper Novaya Gazeta who was murdered at her apartment building on October 7, 2006, will be honored posthumously. Throughout her distinguished career as a Russian journalist, Anna was an outspoken advocate for human rights and an end to the devastating war in Chechnya. Politkovskaya's award will be accepted by fellow Novaya Gazeta reporter Elena Milashina.