U Win Tin
Encyclopedia
Win Tin is a politician and former political prisoner in Burma. Arrested in July 1989 because of his senior position in the National League for Democracy
(NLD) and for his writings, he spent 19 years in prison. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature, modern history and political science at the Rangoon University in 1953.
Win Tin was serving a 20 year sentence on charges including "anti-government propaganda." One of the reasons for his detention is his attempt to inform the United Nations
of ongoing human rights violations in Burmese prisons. At 81 years of age, he is 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.
Since the start of 2006 he had not been able to receive visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross
(ICRC).
In 2001, Win Tin was awarded the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
for his efforts to defend and promote and right to freedom of expression. That year, he was also awarded the World Association of Newspapers
' Golden Pen of Freedom Award.
He was freed on 23 September 2008, after serving 19 years imprisonment
; somewhat of a positive coincidence for human rights
activists
, as they were also seeking a stay of execution
in the Troy Davis case, which was granted on the same day as Win Tin's release (this stay, however, was subsequently revoked on 14 October, after a denial of a writ
of certiorari
by the U.S. Supreme Court
, and the acquisition of a execution warrant
for the 27 October).He was a famous writer in Burma.
Burmese writers: Aung San Suu Kyi,Aung Thin,Chit U Nyo, Chit Maung, Dagon Khin Khin Lay, Hmawbi Saya Thein, Htin Aung, James Hla Kyaw, Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay,KaHtiKa Daw Myint Than, Khin Hnin Yu, Khin Khin Htoo, Khin Myo Chit,Lel twinthar Saw Chit, Ludu Daw Amar, Ludu U Hla, Mg Khin Min (Danuphyu),Mg Sein Win(padee kone), Min Theinkha, Min Thu Wun, Minfong Ho,Moe Moe(inya), Mya Than Tint, Myoma Myint Kywe, P Moe Nin, Pascal Khoo Thwe, Pe Maung Tin, Richard Bartholomew, San San Nweh, Saw Wai, Saya Zawgyi, Taw Phayar Galay, Tekkatho Phone Naing, Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, Thein Pe Myint, Theippan Maung Wa, Thukha, Tin Moe,Win Tin, U Ottama and U Pho Kyar were famous in Burma. Burmese Historians: Ba Shin, Than Tun, Thant Myint-U, Htin Aung, Sao Saimong, Myoma Myint Kywe, and San C. Po were famous in Burma.
After his release from prison Win Tin made efforts to reorganise the NLD. He relaunched the weekly meetings of the party's Central Executive Committee which had been irregularly held since 2003. He also resumed a regular roundtable called "Youth and Future" which Aung San Suu Kyi
has participated in the past. Win Tin visited family members of political prisoner
s to offer moral support.
National League for Democracy
The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
(NLD) and for his writings, he spent 19 years in prison. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature, modern history and political science at the Rangoon University in 1953.
Win Tin was serving a 20 year sentence on charges including "anti-government propaganda." One of the reasons for his detention is his attempt to inform the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
of ongoing human rights violations in Burmese prisons. At 81 years of age, he is 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.
Since the start of 2006 he had not been able to receive visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
(ICRC).
In 2001, Win Tin was awarded the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize
The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, created in 1997, honours a person, organization or institution that has made an outstanding contribution to the defence and/or promotion of press freedom anywhere in the world, especially when this has been achieved in the face of danger.The...
for his efforts to defend and promote and right to freedom of expression. That year, he was also awarded the World Association of Newspapers
World Association of Newspapers
The World Association of Newspapers is a non-profit, non-governmental organization made up of 76 national newspaper associations, 12 news agencies, 10 regional press organisations and individual newspaper executives in 100 countries...
' Golden Pen of Freedom Award.
He was freed on 23 September 2008, after serving 19 years imprisonment
Imprisonment
Imprisonment is a legal term.The book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:This passage was approved by Atkin and Duke LJJ in Meering v Grahame White Aviation Co....
; somewhat of a positive coincidence for human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activists
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
, as they were also seeking a stay of execution
Stay of execution
A stay of execution is a court order to temporarily suspend the execution of a court judgment or other court order. The word "execution" does not necessarily mean the death penalty; it refers to the imposition of whatever judgment is being stayed....
in the Troy Davis case, which was granted on the same day as Win Tin's release (this stay, however, was subsequently revoked on 14 October, after a denial of a writ
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
of certiorari
Certiorari
Certiorari is a type of writ seeking judicial review, recognized in U.S., Roman, English, Philippine, and other law. Certiorari is the present passive infinitive of the Latin certiorare...
by the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, and the acquisition of a execution warrant
Execution warrant
An execution warrant is a writ which authorizes the execution of a judgment of death on an individual...
for the 27 October).He was a famous writer in Burma.
Burmese writers: Aung San Suu Kyi,Aung Thin,Chit U Nyo, Chit Maung, Dagon Khin Khin Lay, Hmawbi Saya Thein, Htin Aung, James Hla Kyaw, Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay,KaHtiKa Daw Myint Than, Khin Hnin Yu, Khin Khin Htoo, Khin Myo Chit,Lel twinthar Saw Chit, Ludu Daw Amar, Ludu U Hla, Mg Khin Min (Danuphyu),Mg Sein Win(padee kone), Min Theinkha, Min Thu Wun, Minfong Ho,Moe Moe(inya), Mya Than Tint, Myoma Myint Kywe, P Moe Nin, Pascal Khoo Thwe, Pe Maung Tin, Richard Bartholomew, San San Nweh, Saw Wai, Saya Zawgyi, Taw Phayar Galay, Tekkatho Phone Naing, Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, Thein Pe Myint, Theippan Maung Wa, Thukha, Tin Moe,Win Tin, U Ottama and U Pho Kyar were famous in Burma. Burmese Historians: Ba Shin, Than Tun, Thant Myint-U, Htin Aung, Sao Saimong, Myoma Myint Kywe, and San C. Po were famous in Burma.
After his release from prison Win Tin made efforts to reorganise the NLD. He relaunched the weekly meetings of the party's Central Executive Committee which had been irregularly held since 2003. He also resumed a regular roundtable called "Youth and Future" which Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
has participated in the past. Win Tin visited family members of 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’....
s to offer moral support.