By CARMELA CRUZ
Associated Press Writer
MANILA, Philippines (AP): A Buddhist monk who has worked toward reconciliation on the Korean peninsula and a Nepalese journalist were among six people honored Tuesday with the Ramon Magsaysay Awards, Asia's version of the Nobel Prize.
South Korean monk Sukho Choi, also known as Venerable Pomnyun Snim, was recognized for what the awards foundation called "compassionate attention to the human costs of Korea's bitter division and his hopeful appeal for reconciliation.''
Bharat Koirala, founder of the Nepal Press Institute, was singled out for "unleashing the democratising powers of a free media'' in the Himalayan Kingdom and improving its professional standards in journalism.
This year's award recipients will each receive a certificate, a medallion and a cash prize of dlrs 50,000 in a formal ceremony on Aug. 31.
Myanmar's Dr. Cynthia Maung received an award for her community leadership, including her "humane and fearless response to the urgent medical needs of thousands of refugees and displaced persons'' along the border with Thailand.
For his "profound service to democracy,'' the foundation gave Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. the government service award. He presided over the impeachment process against former President Joseph Estrada, who was later was forced out of office by mass street protests.
The foundation cited German-born Dr. Ruth Pfau for leading the fight in "erasing leprosy and its stigma in Pakistan.'' A Catholic nun who has headed the Marie Adelaide Leprosy Center for many years, she was given the public service award.
The emergent leadership award went to Sandeep Pandey, who built a grassroots network of learning centers, for "the empowering example of his commitment to the transformation of India's marginalized poor.''
The awards, named after late Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, were established by the trustees of the New York-based Rockefeller Brothers Fund to perpetuate Magsaysay's example of government integrity and pragmatic idealism in a democratic society.
Magsaysay died in a plane crash in 1957.