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Man Who Would Conquer kings (By Aung Zaw) The Nation article (August 9, 1996) |
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On the anniversary of the 8-8-88 uprising, Aung Zaw talks to college of one
of the jailed men who kindled it - student leader Min Ko Naing
When schools reopened during the rainy season in June, some students used a
Khanouk, or bamboo hat, to cover their heads instead of umbrellas.
The Khanauk is a symbol of Burma's main opposition party, The National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. "They have shown that they support us," said an NLD member in Rangoon. After the government's crackdown on members in May, the NLD gained momentum and received tremendous international media coverage. But underground students groups in Burma are unhappy with Burma's political stalemate. They want change. They want the junta to invite the opposition to the negotiating table. |
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Recently, they held several clandestine meetings to commemorate the eighth
anniversary of the 8.8.88 uprising. However, the ruling junta won't
tolerate such ceremonies that recall the death of approximately 3,000
unarmed demonstrators in the streets of Rangoon eight years ago.
"Currently, we have no leaders. They are either in jail or in exile," said a student in Rangoon. "We want the authorities to release Min Ko Naing" he added. Min Ko Naing is the nom de guerre of Burma's most prominent student leader. It means "conqueror of kings." Eight years ago, anti-government leaflets and revolutionary poems signed by Min Ko Naing started appearing throughout Rangoon. |
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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 active students, toppled the so-called socialist regime of Gen Ne Win.
After a brutal massacre in August that year, the army withdrew to the barracks. Many activists, including students who had gone underground, started to resurface. On prominent student activist in 1988 recalled: "A young, dark and lanky man in his twenties appeared at rallies throughout Rangoon. The first time we saw him was at a mass student meeting at Rangoon University." It was the first time people saw Min Ko Naing. |
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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," says Moe Thee Zun (June heavy rains), one of the most
prominent students leaders during the 1988 uprising. Moe Thee Zun is a
close friend of Min Ko Naing.
Min Ko Naing's real name is Paw Oo Htun. He was a popular students at Thengangyun State Middle School No 2. "He was the jolly type and was loved by his friends," recalled Moe Thee Zun. Min Ko Naing was popular at school festivals, debates and signing contests. And the loved writing poems and drawing cartoons, especially satirical cartoons. At Rangoon University, the studied zoology and resumed contact with Moe Thee Zun who was a year ahead of him. |
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But things had changed. When the two went to the university in 1980s "our
conversations went beyond the usual topics of poems and cartoons, and we
began to talk about politics," says Moe Thee Zun who real name is Myo Than
Htut.
The reason? The worsening economic situation in the country. "Families were finding it extremely hard to cope as prices increased, while their incomes barely changed," Moe Thee Zun added. But having a family member in the military made the difference. "This [military] is the closest thing we have to an elite in Burma," says Moe Thee Zun. In addition, says Moe Thee Zun, "There wasn't even a student union where we could express our grievances. Our students did not known what a union was." The students' union was outlawed by Ne Win's regime in 1962. Then Min Ko Naing, Moe Thee Zun and other students began talking about the current affairs in Burma as well as its future. |
