Kaladan News
Chittagong, Bangladesh: Rohingya with other ethnic groups in London celebrated Ko Min Ko Naing’s 49th birthday by honoring his sacrifices and his unwavering dedication to the people and the country on October 18, 2011 according to Tun Khin, the President, the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK).
Tun Khin, the President, the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK) with ethnic group at birthday celebrations for Min Ko Naing in London
“The 49th birthday anniversary of the 88 Generation Student leader Min Ko Naing aka Paw Oo Tun, who is the former chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), is serving a 65-year prison term in Kengtung Prison.”
Tun Khin, the President, the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK) with ethnic group at birthday celebrations for Min Ko Naing in London
“The 49th birthday anniversary of the 88 Generation Student leader Min Ko Naing aka Paw Oo Tun, who is the former chairman of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), is serving a 65-year prison term in Kengtung Prison.”
“My birthday party should not be only for me; it should be a ceremony of remembrance for all. The location of a person is not important, only the doctrine the person embraces is important,” according to Ko Min Ko Naing’s family member which sent as birthday message from his prison cell.
“Many [student leaders] have still not been freed from their imprisonment. We will continue our struggle for their release,” Aung San Suu Kyi told supporters at birthday celebrations for Min Ko Naing in a monastery of Rangoon. “Why do I want the release of political prisoners? I want our country to become really free.”
“I will try to visit to my friends who are still in the prisons,” the Famous satirist Zarganar who plans to organize a group of actors and comedians to visit jailed dissidents held in prisons around the country, told at the Rangoon ceremony. “I would leave parcels for political detainees if I was not allowed to see them. They will be happy if they know that I have travelled to visit them in person, even though we cannot see each other.”
Ko Min Ko Naing was arrested in 1989 for participating in the student-led uprising. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He released in 2004 November and rearrested again in August 2007, with 13 other leaders of the 88 Generation Students for organizing peaceful demonstrations. In November 2008, he was sentenced to 65 years imprisonment, along with 22 others for their role in the August 2007 demonstrations. In 2008, he was transferred to Kengtung Prison in Shan State, where isolated, bleak cells were constructed in mid-2000 for solitary confinement, according to BROUK press released.
Ethnic groups join at the birthday celebrations for Min Ko Naing in London
“Ko Min Ko Naing had spent most of his birthdays behind bars. We pray and wish that the years when he can happily celebrate his birthday with his family, friends and colleagues come soon,” Tun Khin, the President, the Burmese Rohingya Organization UK (BROUK).
“We are with our democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ,Ko Min Ko Naing and 88 generation students.”
“We are working with all ethnic groups and democratic groups in UK because we want to restore for the human rights and democracy in our country. We want to live with peace in our homeland of Arakan and want to restore our ethnic rights and citizenship rights.”
"If we, all ethnic brothers and sisters fight together, we hope we will win our freedom one day.”
“According to the information we have, political prisoners will be released in three batches. In the first batch, Min Ko Naing was not included, but Zarganar was included. We heard that Min Ko Naing will be included in the last batch,” 88-generation student Myo Yan Naung Thein said.
The fate of political prisoners in Burma is a key concern of western governments that have imposed sanctions on the isolated nation.
Some observers have said the amnesty could be one of several by a regime that appears eager to end its international isolation but is wary of potential unrest.
Comments