The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) issued an official statement on Wednesday congratulating Bo Kyi, co-founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), on receiving the 2026 Ramon Magsaysay Award.
The Washington-based foundation recognized Bo Kyi—a former NED Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow—for his “extraordinary moral courage and personal sacrifice on behalf of human rights in Burma.”
Praise for decades of activism and documentation
NED leadership emphasized Bo Kyi’s role at AAPP in sustaining Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement through decades of severe state repression.
“For decades, Bo Kyi has helped ensure that the voices of Burma’s political prisoners can reach the world,” said Damon Wilson, the NED President and CEO.
“His courageous leadership has sustained fellow activists through imprisonment and persecution, while helping preserve evidence that lays the groundwork for future accountability. This honor is a powerful testament to Bo Kyi’s extraordinary service and the resilience of Burma’s pro-democracy movement.”
NED–AAPP partnership & operational scope
The announcement highlighted a quarter-century of institutional collaboration between the U.S. non-profit and the Thailand-based human rights group, established following Bo Kyi’s own seven-year imprisonment in Myanmar for pro-democracy activism during the Aug. 8, 1988, or ‘8888 Uprising.’
| Area of Support | Operational Impact & Services Provided |
| Emergency Assistance | Direct financial aid, emergency safe houses, and psychosocial support for targeted activists and political prisoners’ families. |
| Documentation & Accountability | Systematic tracking of political arrests, deaths in custody, and state-sponsored abuses to feed international judicial mechanisms. |
| Fellowship Background | Bo Kyi previously served as a fellow at NED, expanding international advocacy networks for Myanmar political detainees. |
The Magsaysay Award, established in 1958, honors outstanding contributions to public service, peacebuilding, and democratic leadership across Asia. Bo Kyi shares the 2026 honor with Singaporean diplomat Tommy Koh and Bangladeshi social entrepreneur Runa Khan.
