U Win Tin : An 'election' we don't need

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U Win Tin is a member of the Central Executive Committee and a founder of Myanmar's National League for Democracy party. He was a political prisoner from 1989 to 2008.

An 'election' we don't need
U Win Tin, Los Angeles Times-Washington Post
September 11, 2009

Much attention has been focused on Senator James Webb's recent visit to Myanmar and his meetings with Senior General Than Shwe and incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. I understand Webb's desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Myanmar's ruling authorities.

Unfortunately, his efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue - the potential for an 'election' that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent.

In our last free election, the people of Myanmar rejected military rule in a landslide, awarding our National League for Democracy (NLD) party more than 80 per cent of the seats in parliament. Yet the military has refused to allow the NLD to form a government. In the 19 years since that election, Myanmar's democracy activists have faced imprisonment, intimidation, torture and death as they have peacefully voiced demands for justice, individual and ethnic rights, and a democratic form of government that is representative of all Myanmar's people.

While never ending our struggle for democracy, the NLD has continually sought to engage the regime and open a dialogue - based on peace and mutual respect - that could address Myanmar's critical political as well as social problems. Make no mistake - these two issues are linked. Myanmar was once the rice bowl of Asia. Today, because of the regime's destructive economic policies and its use of oppression to maintain military rule, Myanmar is a shattered, poverty-stricken country.

The regime is seeking to place a veneer of legitimacy on itself through showcase 'elections' and claiming that 'disciplined democracy' will be instituted next year. Yet in May 2008, just days after a massive cyclone devastated Myanmar and killed more than 100,000 people, the regime used a farcical process to claim that 93 per cent of voters chose to adopt a constitution that permanently enshrines military rule and prevents those with undefined 'foreign ties' from holding public office - catch-all provisions that would bar Suu Kyi and democracy activists from seeking office.

Some international observers view next year's planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military's constitution, the election will be a sham. We will not sacrifice the democratic principles for which many millions of Myanmarese have marched, been arrested, been tortured and died to participate in a process that holds no hope whatsoever for bringing freedom to our country.

The demands of the NLD are reasonable. In April we issued another declaration to encourage engagement with the military that called for the release of all political prisoners, a full review of the constitution, reopening of all NLD offices and the right to freely organise. The regime's answer is the continued jailing of Suu Kyi and 2,000 other activists, massive military offensives against ethnic groups and the enforcement of rules to gag democracy.

How can the international community play a meaningful role? First, officials such as Webb should stop fear-mongering about China. His language about containing China, and working with Myanmar's regime to do so, is based on an outdated and unrealistic thesis. Suu Kyi rejected such notions by informing Webb that "we will not deal with anyone with fear and insecurity. We will deal with anyone, China, America, India, equally and friendly. As we can't choose our neighbours, we understand that we need to have a good relationship with China".

Second, the NLD encourages other countries and international organizations to engage with Myanmar's military leaders to persuade them to engage with us and Myanmar's ethnic groups. The United States and many other nations have imposed sanctions on Myanmar. That is their decision and in keeping with their justified solidarity with the democratic values that we all hold so dear. If the regime genuinely engages with the NLD and ethnic representatives, releases political prisoners, ceases attacks against ethnic minorities and takes additional steps to build a true democratic state, these sanctions will be repealed at the right time.

In the meantime, let no one doubt our resolve. The NLD is a reflection of Myanmar's society. We will not be cowed or coerced into participating in a fatally flawed political process that robs the people of Myanmar of the freedom for which we struggle. We stand ready to engage, but we are more than willing to continue our struggle for the democratic values that so many have given their lives and their freedom to achieve.

gulfnews.com

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Win Tin Released after Questioning
MIN LWIN
Saturday, September 12, 2009

Win Tin, a senior member of Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), was taken into custody by special police intelligence officers for several hours today, according to close friends.

The sources reported that he was summoned for questioning at around 10 a.m. while visiting a colleague at his home in Kyauk Kone, in Rangoon’s Yankin Township.


Win Tin
(Photo: Tom Parry)

He returned to his home at around 5 p.m., the sources said.

“U Win Tin was taken by four police intelligence officers who said they had to ask him something,” said a close friend who requested anonymity, speaking earlier today.

“He went with them carrying only enough medicine for one day,” the friend added.

Eighty-year-old Win Tin spent 19 years in Rangoon’s notorious Insein prison until his release last year. Since then, he has spoken frequently to international and Burmese exiled media, often criticizing the ruling regime’s plans to create a military-backed civilian government.

In an opinion piece that appeared in The Washington Post on Wednesday, Win Tin denounced the Burmese regime’s planned election in 2010 as a sham, and strongly rebuked US Senator James Webb, who recently visited Burma, for his uncritical pro-engagement stance.

“Some international observers view next year’s planned elections as an opportunity. But under the circumstances imposed by the military’s constitution, the election will be a sham,” he wrote.

Although he said he could understand Webb’s desire to seek a meaningful dialogue with the Burmese ruling authorities, Win Tin rejected the senator’s calls to participate in a political process designed to keep the military in power.

“Unfortunately, [Webb’s] efforts have been damaging to our democracy movement and focus on the wrong issue—the potential for an ‘election’ that Webb wants us to consider participating in next year as part of a long-term political strategy. But the showcase election planned by the military regime makes a mockery of the freedom sought by our people and would make military dictatorship permanent,” he wrote.

irrawaddy.org

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NLD’s Win Tin remains in intensive care
30 March 2014


NLD veteran Win Tin
(PHOTO: DVB)

National League for Democracy (NLD) veteran Win Tin remains unconsciousness in Rangoon General Hospital following an operation on his large intestine, fellow central executive committee member Win Myint confirmed to DVB on Sunday.

Win Tin, who recently celebrated his 84th birthday, was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit on Saturday for the operation following worrying fluctuations in blood pressure.

The NLD patron had earlier been treated at Rangoon’s Green Cross Hospital for muscle and nerve issues before being moved to Victoria Hospital for bowel treatment.

On Saturday, he developed respiratory and blood pressure problems and a decision was made to take him to Rangoon General Hospital for an immediate operation.

A former journalist, Win Tin was arrested by the former military junta in July 1989 as a leading light in the newly formed opposition party, the NLD.

Charged with disseminating “anti-government propaganda”, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, of which he served 19.

While Win Tin languished in prison in 2005, then aged 75, Amnesty International noted: “U Win Tin was imprisoned because of his senior position in the National League for Democracy, and was sentenced to further years in prison for his attempts to inform the United Nations of ongoing human rights violations in prisons in Myanmar [Burma].

“He has been in a poor state of health, exacerbated by his treatment in prison, which has included torture, inadequate access to medical treatment, being held in a cell designed for military dogs, without bedding, and being deprived of food and water for long periods of time.”

Last month, Win Tin met with nationalist Buddhist monk Wirathu at the Masoeyein Monastery in Mandalay where the pair discussed the opposition party’s efforts to amend the 2008 Constitution.

dvb.no

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Win Tin given ‘50-50 chance’ despite regaining consciousness
ANGUS WATSON
3 April 2014


File Photo: Win Tin speaks at a celebration to mark Suu Kyi's 65th birthday, which she spent under house arrest in 2010.

The National League of Democracy (NLD) has been told that party elder Win Tin has a 50-50 chance of survival, despite the 84-year-old having regained consciousness in the intensive care unit at Rangoon General Hospital.

“Win Tin is in a critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit.” NLD executive committee member Han Thar Myint told DVB on Thursday. “We are remaining hopeful that things will improve in the future, but we have been told by doctors he only has a 50-50 chance of survival.”

According to Win Tin’s doctor, Dr Myint Thein, the former journalist and 19-year political prisoner underwent an operation on his large intestine on Saturday for an infection stemming from his preexisting lung disease. Myint Thein said Win Tin was rushed to hospital with internal bleeding after doctors noticed an irregular heart rate.

However Win Tin’s niece, Yin Tun, speaking from the stricken democracy leader’s bedside, said that his condition has improved as of Thursday morning. “He still needs help breathing and the situation is still serious, although he indicated to me that he is feeling a little bit better,” she told DVB by telephone.

Public concern for Win Tin’s condition has prompted scores of supporters to maintain a vigil outside Rangoon General Hospital, praying for the veteran politician’s health. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi, however, has not yet visited the man considered second in charge of Burma’s political opposition, despite her being in Rangoon.

“She was due to visit him yesterday, however she did not come. I have not heard anything about a visit today,” Yin Tun said on Thursday.

Win Tin joined the NLD in 1989 and acted as a close aid to Suu Kyi as the party established itself. The senior leader vigorously campaigned for constitutional change before he was taken ill, with a particular focus on the amendment of Article 59(f), which bars Suu Kyi from running for the presidency.

Han Thar Myint said that he was unsure of why the NLD leader had not checked in on her deputy.

“I hope she will come soon,” Han Thar Myint said. “There are a lot of people waiting.”

dvb.no

[Mid]

Myanmar democracy veteran Win Tin dies at 85



Win Tin, a veteran of Myanmar's pro-democracy movement, has died at the age of 85.

One of the founder members of the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy, Win Tin was seen as highly influential in the push for reform in the South East Asian nation.

He served 19 years in prison under Myanmar's military rulers for his activism, but was released in 2008.

An NLD spokesman described him as a "great pillar of strength".

"His demise at this important political juncture of transition is a great loss not only to the NLD but also to the country. We are deeply saddened,'' said Nyan Win.

Win Tin had been in hospital with respiratory problems since 12 March, the Associated Press news agency reported.


Blue shirt message

Win Tin was a newspaper editor before his political activism led to his arrest in 1989 and subsequent incarceration in Yangon's Insein prison.

Much of his time in prison was spent in solitary confinement and his sentence was twice extended



Win Tin criticised some NLD members who were too reverential of Aung San Suu Kyi


Freed in 2008, he continued to wear his blue prison shirt as an ongoing protest.

"When I was released, there are about 500 or so political prisoners... behind the bars," he told the BBC in April 2013.


"I said that I am going to wear it in the future. So long as these political prisoners are behind bars, I must wear this shirt and this uniform, the colour of the prison, you see, blue colour. I want to show my solidarity with them."

Two years after Win Tin's release, Myanmar - formerly known as Burma - held its first elections in 20 years. The polls, nominally, aimed to replace military dictatorship with civilian rule, subsequently installing a military-backed civilian government led by former military officials.

The NLD boycotted the polls, but then re-entered the political fold as the government embarked on a process of reform that saw some political prisoners freed and media censorship relaxed.

The NLD now has a small presence in parliament and its key focus is the general elections due in 2015.

After his release, Win Tin continued to work with the NLD despite ongoing health problems.

He was not afraid to criticise members of his own party, in particular those he saw as being too reverential towards Aung San Suu Kyi, reports the BBC's Jonah Fisher from Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon.

And while he welcomed the reform process - telling the BBC in March 2012 that he could see "light at the end of the tunnel" - he spoke out against too much of a conciliatory stance towards the military, for whom 25% of the seats in parliament are reserved.

"We have to co-operate to some extent but we cannot compromise all the time," he told Reuters in April 2013.

"So, I might be a very lonesome voice, not a loud voice, but I must say so all the time."

RIP Win Tin .

We have lost another good one

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The naked truth of Myanmar, a portrait of U Win Tin
KAY MASTENBROEK
21 April 2014



A word from the filmmaker

The film is an initiative of DVB’s deputy executive director Khin Maung Win and myself. We came to the conclusion that, although U Win Tin gave thousands of interviews, his complete life-story was never filmed. It took me more than a year to get funding, but in December 2013 I could travel to Rangoon to make the film.

After a long talk, I convinced Win Tin to co-operate with the film project.

My argument was: you’re writing your memoires, and I’ll make the documentary that should accompany your autobiography. After this meeting my cameraman and I could come to his small house whenever we wanted. We filmed him sleeping, eating, his weekly massage, and during his talks with friends, colleagues and foreign guests.

All the time he was remarkably strong of mind. During the ten hours of interviews, both in English and in Burmese, he was sometimes frustrated because he couldn’t remember some specific dates straight away but I was impressed by his superb memory and by the fact that he remembered so many details.

As a filmmaker, you also want to catch some emotion of your main character. Win Tin, however, avoided getting emotional during the interview. Still, on two occasions I could feel he was moved: when he spoke about the death of Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, Aung San; and when he told me he could not forgive the man who put him in jail for such a long time. I think it was the injustice of these events that made him angry.

For me, the film tells a story of a strong and independent mind – a man who dared to say “no”, when all others said “yes”. A man who liked to be alone sometimes, but also appreciated the company of the many friends he made during his life. From time to time, he was a little bit obstinate and rebellious, but it’s this kind of person that makes it all more interesting, I think.

When I showed the film to Win Tin in the hospital in March, he said, “A bit short, but adequate and sometimes beautiful” – a big compliment from a distinguished colleague.

I will miss my uncle from Burma, because I would have liked to show him that many journalists and filmmakers will continue to work for better journalism in his country. He would have liked that.

dvb.no