Khun Htun Oo

Studied law. Elected member of the Burmese

Parliament. Most senior political
representative of the Shan,Burma’s largest
ethnic minority. Sentenced to 93 years in
prison in 2005. Jailed in Kachin state far from
his family and where conditions are said to
be very harsh. Aged 65 he has a number of
medical conditions including diabetes and his
health is said to be deteriorating. Awarded
“Honorary Citizen” by Italy in 2008. His
message from prison is: “We didn’t commit
any crime. We reaffirm our aim to empower
our people to bring peace, justice and
equality to the people”.
Su Su Nway

An NLD member and a dedicated Labour

Activist. Recognised by international human
rights awards from Canada and the Czech
Republic for her work in bringing forced
labour to the attention of the ILO. Aged 38.
Imprisoned for 8 years and six months in a
jail 700 miles from her home in Rangoon.
Recently placed in solitary confinement for
three days for singing an independence
anthem. In frail health, her heart problem has
seriously worsened in prison. In 2007 she
said. “We held demonstrations for all the
people, including those who beat us. [They]
are also facing difficult daily lives.”
Ko Ko Gyi

In 1988, he was a final year student in

International Relations at Rangon University.
He helped found the 88 Generation Students
Group, together with activists from the 88
uprising. He has a reputation as a gifted
strategist and as one of the most prominent
activists. Aged 47 he was sentenced to 65
years in prison in 2008. He is reportedly
suffering from poor health and has been very
ill in prison. Speaking of his activities he has
said: “We paid the price with our families, our
youth and our society. But we are satisfied
with that sacrifice .”
Min Ko Naing

Talented artist, poet and satirist. Co-founder

and spokesperson of the 88 Generation of
Students Group. Sentenced with other 88
Generation Group members to over 65 years
in prison. He is 46 and in failing health. He
has been held in solitary confinement and is
suspected to have been tortured. At his trial
he declared: “You can sentence us to a
thousand years in prison for our political
activities, but we will continue to defend
ourselves in accordance with the law.
Nobody can hide from justice.”
Htay Kywe Eng

“To support the needs of our people, we are

prepared to give and lose everything.” Leader
of the 88 Generation Students Group.
Sentenced with others to 65 years for his part
in the Saffron Revolution in 2007. Aged 20 at
the time of the 8888 uprising, he was a
student of geology and a prominent student
leader. A natural leader, charismatic, calm
and a good arbitrator in disputes. Creative, a
talented musician and poet. Currently held in
solitary confinement on the death row cell
block in a prison in Arakan state, and denied
proper food, exercise and medical care.
There are reports that he has been tortured.
Htay Win Aung aka Pyone Cho

Leader of the 88 Generation Students Group

Married in April 2007. He is described as a
very kind and generous man and as a joker
who makes people laugh. He was arrested a
number of times including for the White
Sunday campaign; he organised100 people
to wear white like prisoners’ uniforms and
visited families of political prisoners to
support them. His brother was also a political
prisoner but died in jail. Aged 42 he was
sentenced to 65 years in prison, along with
other 88 Generation Group members, for
their part in the Saffron Revolution in 2007.
Min Zeya

A leader of the 88 Generation Student Group

and from the Mon ethnic group. A lawyer by
training. Tried with 35 members of the 88
Generation Students Group in 2008 for
leading protests against the government’s
economic mismanagement. Min and his co-
defendants were handcuffed at the hearing
and their families denied access. Their
defence lawyers were subsequently
prosecuted. Now aged 50 and suffering from
ill health brought on by torture during earlier
periods of detention. In November 2008 he
was sentenced to 65 years in prison.
Nilar Thein

Leading member of the 88 Students Group

and sentenced, with others in the Group, to
65 years in prison for their part in the Saffron
Revolution. She is married with a daughter.
Her husband was arrested and Nilar Thein
went into hiding. Fearing for her baby
daughter’s safety, she sent her to her parents
and has not seen her since. She has written
the heart-rending “Who will save Burma’s
women and children?” and spoken of Aung
Sang Suu Kyi as a reminder to the world that
the Burmese junta forcibly separates mothers
and children.
Thin Thin Aye aka Mie Mie

Leader of the 88 Generation Students Group.

Worked for the NLD election campaigning in
1990. Took part in the Saffron Revolution in
2007. Sentenced to 65 years with hard labour,
the court refused her family permission to
attend and subsequently handed down prison
sentences to her lawyers for representing her.
On sentencing Mie Mie declared “We will
never be frightened!” She has a degree in
Zoology and is married with two children aged
17 and 12. Her health is deteriorating in prison
in Irrawaddy, a long way from her family in
Rangoon.
U Thura @ Zarganar

Comedian, film actor and director from an

intellectual and political family. Zarganar is a
nickname meaning “Tweezers.” A qualified
dentist, he was involved in the 8888 uprising
and Saffron Revolution in 2007. Aged 48 and
in deteriorating health, he was sentenced to
35 years for his involvement in cyclone relief
efforts. He is incarcerated in tiny cell in a
prison many miles from his family who have
been denied visiting rights - even after
making the trip. He has spoken of previous
prison terms - of being kept with dogs,of
seeing monks with gunshot wounds and
broken bones and of young lives destroyed.
Sandar Min aka Shwee

A chemistry graduate from Rangoon

University, her last job was working with a
children’s NGO. She has diplomas in
Business Law, Applied Psychology, English,
Business Management and Banking
Technology. Now aged 40, she was
sentenced to 65 years with 13 other activists
in November 2008 for her part in the Saffron
Revolution in 2007; she and other activists
led a peaceful march against the
government’s economic mismanagement and
hikes in fuel and commodity prices. Her
lawyers were also sentenced to detention.
STATEMENT BY IVAN LEWIS
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
ON THE 8888 POLITICAL PRISONERS

• This Saturday 8 August is the 21st anniversary of the 8888 Popular Uprising in Burma. It began as a
student protest about corrupt government and economic mismanagement in Rangoon but spread
throughout the country. The students were joined in their protests by people from all walks of life –
saffron-robed monks, teachers, young children, housewives and doctors. A general strike took place
on 8 August 1988, an auspicious date. But Burma’s first popular uprising was put down the next
month in the most bloody and ruthless manner. A brutal repression of the people that has continued
to this day, and which we last witnessed in the beating and killing of monks and civilians in
November 2008.
• It was 8888 that brought Aung Sang Suu Kyi (ASSK) to the forefront of the struggle for democracy,
freedom and civil liberties . ASSK is the best known of Burma’s political prisoners and she is the
Burmese people’s beacon of hope. But she is currently subject to a political show trial and faces the
prospect of a prison sentence on 11 August – a date the regime have set to avoid the anniversary of
8888, and because the Senior General believes 11 is his lucky number. Relying on numbers, lucky
or otherwise, is a poor substitute for a clear strategic choice of an inclusive democracy.
• ASSK’s plight also highlights the appalling plight of the over 2100 other political prisoners. Here, to
commemorate the 21st anniversary of 8888, are a few of these other political prisoners. It is
important that we know their stories.
• Like ASSK, their stories are heart-rending. They are people with families from whom they are
separated. Many of them are sentenced for decades, two from minority ethnic groups have been
sentenced to over 100 years each. The regime wants to ensure its critics die in prison. They are
people from different ethnic backgrounds and walks of life – Shan, Mon, Burman, lawyers, artists,
activists, MPs, a comedian. They are talented people with professional qualifications. Their
incarceration demonstrates how much human potential goes unrealised in Burma. Their diversity
demonstrates that the regime does not discriminate – all dissent in any form is brutally crushed.
• What these political prisoners have in common with each other, and what the regime has against
them, is an unwavering commitment to peace and national reconciliation.
• On the anniversary of 8888, I want to pay tribute to all Burma’s political prisoners. Their courage
and resilience in the face of the abuse of their fundamental human rights is humbling. I also want to
repeat the international community’s call to the Burmese regime to release unconditionally all
political prisoners, and commit to a genuine and inclusive process of dialogue and national
reconciliation. Until they do so, future elections, such as those they plan for 2010 will have
absolutely no legitimacy.