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.

Institutional MetricOperational Scope & Evidence GatheringCurrent Political Detainees14,756 citizens verified as currently held by the military regime for opposing the February 2021 coup.International Case-BuildingPartners directly with the U.N. Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) to archive state-sponsored crimes for future judicial proceedings.Foundation CitationRecognized by Foundation Chairperson Edgar Chua for decades of documenting political prisoners, supporting families, and preventing silenced voices from being erased.

2026 Co-Recipients & Myanmar historical context

Bo Kyi becomes the fifth prominent figure from Myanmar to receive Asia’s premier leadership award, joining prior laureates Dr. Cynthia Maung (Mae Tao Clinic), Lahpai Seng Raw (Metta Development Foundation), Kyaw Thu (Free Funeral Service Society), and investigative journalist Swe Win (Myanmar Now editor-in-chief).

Established in 1957 to honor former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, the award celebrates “individuals and organizations who uphold integrity in governance, contribute to the people and demonstrate outstanding leadership in a democratic society.”