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Chaiyaphum Pasae
Chaiyaphum Pasae was a 17 year old ethnic Lahu human rights defender and a strong advocate for the rights of vulnerable ethnic minorities in Northern Thailand. Working with the Young Seedlings Network Camp in Chiang Dao, he was an advocate for the right to Thai nationality for his community through non-violent action. Chaiyaphum Pasae participated in many events to publicise the problems of ethnic minorities and he used his talent in music and film-making to promote their rights to gain citizenship, health care, and access to education. On 15 March 2017, he was among 19 youth representatives of ethnic minorities who attended a youth activist forum organised by the National Institute for Child and Family Development in Bangkok. Chaiyaphum Pasae also spoke out against abuses by Thai security forces against his community during anti-drug operations.