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MIN KO NAING "Conqueror of Kings" |
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"Min Ko Naing" or "Conqueror of Kings," is the nom de guerre of one of the most prominent public figures in Burma's struggle for democracy and human rights.
During the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, Min Ko Naing opened the eyes of the Burmese people to the injustice and suffering that was being unleashed upon them. The name spoke of courage, commitment and hope. |
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In 1988, Min Ko Naing's letters, poems and statements influenced students and the people of Burma to challenge the country's dictators. The 1988 movement, led by
a number of students including Min Ko Naing, toppled the so-called socialist regime of Gen Ne Win.
In Burma, independent students' unions were outlawed since 1962, but Min Ko Naing and his close colleagues secretly established an underground student union in the mid-1980s with the expectation that a political uprising was imminent. They began to organize study groups to arm themselves with knowledge and tobe prepared for a possible historic opportunity for change. |
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In 1985, the government, known as Burmese Socialist Program Party,demonetized the 100 kyats note. In 1987, 75,35, and 25 kyat notes were cancelled abruptly with little compensation offered. The effect on ordinary Burmese households wasdevastating. In the same year, Burma was accorded the status of Least Developed Country - the unfortunate result of General Ne Win's "Burmese Way to Socialism."
A year later, Burma faced a nation-wide uprising calling for the 26-year-old General Ne Win government to step down. When anti-government demonstrations broke out all over the country Min Ko Naing led students to challenge the one-party system. Confrontations between the army and peaceful demonstrators were widespread. Meanwhile, the feared military intelligence or 'secret police' created anarchy in the country in order to pave a way for the armed forces to take over. |
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In this chaotic situation, student leader Min Ko Naing asked people to restrain from their anger, frustration and hatred against the military government. He pleaded with people to show patience and maintain a non-violent approach. In this way, he was able to prevent violence from breaking out in several very tense situations. In September 1988, the armed forces, called the Tatmadaw in Burmese, staged a bloody coup. Undaunted, Min Ko Naing continued the struggle. While thousands of activists and young students fled the country, Min Ko Naing remained in Burma to keep up the pressure on the junta. Although he knew he was likely to be arrested, he remained committed to the movement. |
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The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) viewed Min Ko Naing as a threat, because of his ability to organize and encourage the democratic movement. Using the excuse that he had illegally spoken at public gatherings, the military arrested him on March 23, 1989 while he was on a bus on the way pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's house.
He was later given a prison sentence of 20 years. Even for Burma, this sentence is incredibly long. Worse still, he has been kept in solitary confinement ever since. According to reliable sources, family members are only rarely allowed to see him. Having denied regular prison visit to Min Ko Naing his family members, students and friends are extremely worried about his current health condition. |
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Although international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, consider him as a prisoner of conscience, his conditions in prison have notimproved.
Burmese students have also been demanding his release but to no avail. In March 1999, Burmese students in and out of Burma will be launching a public campaign for the release of their student leader, Min Ko Naing. |
