ASEAN Regional Coalition to #StopDigitalDictatorship The page also discusses environmental issues, In October 2022, he received his last death threat, decrying the severe haze pollution during burning warning him to leave the country as he would be killed seasons, and advocates for LGBTIQA+ rights. During if he did not stop his online activism. After being the summer of 2022, the followers of the page monitored online for about a year, he started to be criticised the government, expressing their discontent physically followed since at least January 2023.62 over the economic crisis and the high inflation rate. Jack is also one of the administrators of another public Facebook page created in March 2022 called “Sathalanalat” (“The Republic”), promoting human rights in Laos and discussing similar issues as the “Power of the Keyboard,” with a focus on the need for a democratic regime. Due to his outspoken stance against human rights abuses, he has been intimidated and received online threats from fake Facebook accounts. Online political trolls frequently messaged him directly on his personal account, asking him to The brutal attempted murder of Jack is the latest in a string of similar attacks in recent years targeting Lao human rights activists who speak out against the authoritarian government, furthering the cycle of political violence and suppression of dissenting voices in the country. It confirmed that Lao authorities have a record of oppressing, repressing, and forcibly disappearing activists and human rights defenders, as well as taking part in transnational repression to silence dissent among diasporas and exiles.63 close the “Power of the Keyboard’’ page. We received strong indications that the attempted murder of Jack is extrajudicial, perpetrated in the hands of Lao authorities wanting to stop any prodemocracy youth movement to grow from inside the country. Voices of dissent cannot be stifled by the barrel of the gun. –Emilie Palamy Pradichit, Founder & Executive Director of Manushya Foundation Lao PDR 131