Rafto House in Bergen: moments of the year gone by

The 2009 Rafto Prize
The 2009 Rafto Prize was awarded to journalist and human rights activist Malahat Nasibova. Nasibova (40) has been awarded the prize for her courageous and unwavering struggle for a free and independent press. Risking her own safety, she reports on abuse of power, human rights violations and corruption in the isolated autonomous republic Nakhchivan, which is part of Azerbaijan.

Malahat Nasibova is a correspondent for the independent information bureau, ‘Turan’ in Azerbaijan and for ‘Radio Free Europe’/‘Radio Liberty’. She is the leader of the human rights organisation ‘Democracy and NGO’s Development Resource Center’ in Nakhchivan. Nasibova has been a critical voice against the authorities for ten years and she reports on violations by the police against ordinary citizens, kidnapping of members of the opposition, and attacks on journalists. In the absence of other independent institutions, Nasibova has become a kind of ombudsperson whom the local population turn to, to be heard.

Malahat Nasibova from Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan,  received the 2009 Rafto Prize at the National Venue of Theatre in Bergen, Norway, on 1 November 2009.

“I am receiving this award on behalf of all those people in Azerbaijan and around the world who are struggling for democracy, human rights and the freedom of speech. I hope the recognition we received here will bring the attention of the international community to the problems of our region,” said Malahat Nasibova in her acceptance speech.

“This prize will encourage me to continue to work for freedom and democracy in my country, and I hope it will encourage others. This prize means that our efforts are recognised and they are supported by the global human rights community, even if we sometimes feel they are ignored or thwarted at home,” said Nasibova in her acceptance speech.

Above: Malahat Nasibova took part in Torchlight procession after the award ceremony in Bergen, 1 November 2009. Malahat Nasibova (centre), front right: Ilgar Nasibov, Malahat Nasibova’s husband. Front left: Chairman of the Rafto Prize Committee 2009, Arne Liljedahl Lynngård. Behind, to the right: Mayor of Bergen, Gunnar Bakke.

“As journalists and human rights activists, we report on crime, corruption and human rights abuses, we seek accountability and demand justice,” said Malahat Nasibova in her speech at the Rafto Symposium “Azerbaijan’s brave voices: The role of critical journalism in an oil rich state” at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, Bryggen in Bergen on 30 October 2009. Photo: Gunta Venge/the Rafto Foundation.

Above: Malahat Nasibova pointing to attackers after being beaten in 2002.The office of her NGO was attacked by group of conservatives who blamed Nasibova in introducing western values to women of Nakhchivan, trying to change mentality. Photo: Ilgar Nasibov/Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 

Yodok Stories Cinema Release
Yodok is a shocking documentary describing the conditions in North Korean concentration camps. Yodok, directed by the prize winning Polish documentary film director Andrzej Fidyk, had it’s Norwegian première on 16 October. 

Today, more than 200,000 men, women and children are locked up in North Korea’s concentration camps where inmates face systematic torture, starvation and murder, and very few survive the atrocities.

A small number of people have managed to flee the camps and start a new life in South Korea. Yodok shows how some of them meet and decide to make an extraordinary and controversial musical about their experiences in the Yodok concentration camp. For the refugees, this raises the possibility to talk about their experiences and inspires others to protest against the existence of such camps.

Cinemas across Norway have also arranged special free screenings for school classes. The Rafto Foundation in cooperation with Piraya Film has made a Yodok study guide to assist teachers in carrying out follow-up work with their classes. The study guide and other relevant information (in Norwegian only) for teachers and students is available on www.rafto.no or www.yodokfilm.com.   

Free Suu Kyi – free Burma
The celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi’s birthday on 19 June 2009 entailed a strong appeal to Norway and the international community. Joint international action is necessary to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, all political prisoners and people in Burma from the military junta’s systematic abuse.

The celebration of Suu Kyi’s birthday had a special significance in 2009. She was moved from house arrest to the notorious Insein prison outside Rangoon. In August 2009 Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to another 18 months of house arrest, after the American John Yettaw swam across a river and got into Suu Kyi’s house. Burma prepares for elections in 2010 and in connection with this, more democracy activists are being imprisoned.