Nilar Thein
Encyclopedia
Nilar Thein is a Burmese
democracy activist and political prisoner
currently held at Thayet prison in Burma's Magway Region. Amnesty International
considers her a prisoner of conscience
.
, Burma. She and her future husband, Kyaw Min Yu (better known as "Ko Jimmy"), participated in 1988's pro-democracy 8888 Uprising
, opposing the continued rule of the military dictatorship State Law and Order Restoration Council
(SLORC). In 1990, she was imprisoned for two months for her participation in protests. In December 1996, she was arrested for organizing protests and sentenced to ten years imprisonment, which she served at Thayawaddy prison. She reported being abused and sexually harassed by prison staff during this sentence, stating that "under the prison chief, U Win Myint, prisoners sentenced for rape were kept next to the women’s building... Prison staff and these prisoners would come and peep at us while we took our baths." She was released in 2003. In 2005, she married Kyaw Min Yu. At around the same time, she joined the newly-formed 88 Generation Students Group
.
(popularly known as the "Saffron Revolution" for the prominent involvement of Buddhist monks
) broke out in Yangon in response to increasing fuel and commodity prices. As a part of the protests, Nilar Thein organized a march of roughly 500 people to protest government policies. When police began seeking the organizers of the protest, Nilar Thein went into hiding. Her husband had already been arrested on the night of 21 August and sent to Insein Prison
.
In May, Nilar Thein had given birth to a baby girl, Phyu Nay Kyi Min Yu, and when hiding with the infant became too difficult, she left the child with in-laws. She then evaded capture for a little more than a year, changing locations and cell phone numbers frequently to avoid detection; she told a reporter that at one point in this period she escaped arrest in a rickshaw taxi. In March 2008, People in Need
awarded Nilar Thein, along with political prisoners Su Su Nway
and Phyu Phyu Thin
, the Homo Homini Award
. On 19 June 2008, Nilar Thein published an editorial in the English-language Thai newspaper The Nation
, protesting the Burmese government's treatment of women and children. In it, she asks, "When the government itself is the abuser of human rights and the perpetrator of rape and other forms of gender-based violence, who will protect the victims? Who will end their tragedy? Who will secure the joyful reunion of mothers with their children?"
, Mie Mie
, and ten other activists on four counts of "illegally using electronic media" and one count of "forming an illegal organization". All fourteen are currently serving 65-year sentences at Thayet prison.
In January 2009, her family heard secondhand information that she had developed a peptic ulcer
and were concerned that her health might be deteriorating. In December 2010, Nilar Thein's family reported that prison officials had barred them from seeing her, even to bring Nilar Thein's child for a visit. Nilar Thein responded with a hunger strike.
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
democracy activist and political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
currently held at Thayet prison in Burma's Magway Region. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
considers her a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
.
8888 uprising and subsequent arrests
Nilar Thein is from YangonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, Burma. She and her future husband, Kyaw Min Yu (better known as "Ko Jimmy"), participated in 1988's pro-democracy 8888 Uprising
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
, opposing the continued rule of the military dictatorship State Law and Order Restoration Council
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
(SLORC). In 1990, she was imprisoned for two months for her participation in protests. In December 1996, she was arrested for organizing protests and sentenced to ten years imprisonment, which she served at Thayawaddy prison. She reported being abused and sexually harassed by prison staff during this sentence, stating that "under the prison chief, U Win Myint, prisoners sentenced for rape were kept next to the women’s building... Prison staff and these prisoners would come and peep at us while we took our baths." She was released in 2003. In 2005, she married Kyaw Min Yu. At around the same time, she joined the newly-formed 88 Generation Students Group
88 Generation Students Group
The 88 Generation Students Group is a Burmese pro-democracy movement known for their anti-government activism. Many of its members are currently imprisoned by the Burmese government on charges of "illegally using electronic media" and "forming an illegal organization"...
.
Role in 2007 protests
In August 2007, anti-government protests2007 Burmese anti-government protests
The 2007 Burmese anti-government protests were a series of anti-government protests that started in Burma on 15 August 2007...
(popularly known as the "Saffron Revolution" for the prominent involvement of Buddhist monks
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
) broke out in Yangon in response to increasing fuel and commodity prices. As a part of the protests, Nilar Thein organized a march of roughly 500 people to protest government policies. When police began seeking the organizers of the protest, Nilar Thein went into hiding. Her husband had already been arrested on the night of 21 August and sent to Insein Prison
Insein Prison
Insein Prison is located in Yangon Division, near Yangon , the old capital of Myanmar. It is run by the military junta of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council, and used largely to repress political dissidents....
.
In May, Nilar Thein had given birth to a baby girl, Phyu Nay Kyi Min Yu, and when hiding with the infant became too difficult, she left the child with in-laws. She then evaded capture for a little more than a year, changing locations and cell phone numbers frequently to avoid detection; she told a reporter that at one point in this period she escaped arrest in a rickshaw taxi. In March 2008, People in Need
People In Need (Czech Republic)
People in Need is a Czech nonprofit, non-governmental organization that implements humanitarian relief and long term development projects in crisis regions all over the world, while working to defend human rights and democratic freedom....
awarded Nilar Thein, along with political prisoners Su Su Nway
Su Su Nway
Su Su Nway , is a democracy activist, political prisoner, and member of the National League for Democracy . In 2005, she became the first Burmese national to successfully sue local government officials under a 1999 law forced labour....
and Phyu Phyu Thin
Phyu Phyu Thin
Phyu Phyu Thin is a Burmese HIV/AIDS activist and supporter of the National League for Democracy. On May 21, 2007, Phyu Phyu Thin was arrested by police in Yangon for organizing a prayer rally to call for the release of detained National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi...
, the Homo Homini Award
Homo Homini Award
The Homo Homini Award is given annually by the Czech human rights organization People in Need to "an individual in recognition of a dedication to the promotion of human rights, democracy and non-violent solutions to political conflicts"...
. On 19 June 2008, Nilar Thein published an editorial in the English-language Thai newspaper The Nation
The Nation (Thailand)
The Nation is a broadsheet, English-language daily newspaper founded in 1971 and published in Bangkok, Thailand, and is owned by the Nation Multimedia Group.The Nation is a member of the Asia News Network...
, protesting the Burmese government's treatment of women and children. In it, she asks, "When the government itself is the abuser of human rights and the perpetrator of rape and other forms of gender-based violence, who will protect the victims? Who will end their tragedy? Who will secure the joyful reunion of mothers with their children?"
Arrest, trial, and imprisonment
On 10 September 2008, Nilar Thein was arrested on her way to visit the mother of another political prisoner, Ant Bwe Kyaw, in Yangon. On 11 November, she and her husband were convicted along with fellow 88 Generation Students Group members Htay KyweHtay Kywe
Htay Kywe is a currently-imprisoned Burmese pro-democracy activist considered a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International. BBC News describes him as a key member of the 8888 Generation movement.-Background and role in 1988 protests:...
, Mie Mie
Mie Mie
Thin Thin Aye , is a currently imprisoned Burmese democracy activist who played a leadership role in numerous anti-government protests. Amnesty International considers her to be a prisoner of conscience.-8888 uprising and 1996 arrest:...
, and ten other activists on four counts of "illegally using electronic media" and one count of "forming an illegal organization". All fourteen are currently serving 65-year sentences at Thayet prison.
In January 2009, her family heard secondhand information that she had developed a peptic ulcer
Peptic ulcer
A peptic ulcer, also known as PUD or peptic ulcer disease, is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm...
and were concerned that her health might be deteriorating. In December 2010, Nilar Thein's family reported that prison officials had barred them from seeing her, even to bring Nilar Thein's child for a visit. Nilar Thein responded with a hunger strike.