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BURMA'S DEFIANCE (29 images)

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Burma's long and often bloody struggle for democracy and freedom is one that has been fought for more than 60 years.

In 1962 a military coup led by General Ne Win seized power in Burma and brought an end to the glimmer of hope for democracy that the people of Burma had since the country was granted it's independence in 1948. Since then successive authoritarian military regimes have ruled the country through fear, intimidation and policies tantamount to crimes against humanity...
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  • Su Su Nway, a member of the NLD, is one of the most prominent human rights and labour activists in Burma. In 2005 she won an historic legal victory against the junta's long-standing practice of forced labour. However, the outcome also saw her jailed for 9 months in Insein prison. In August 2007 she played a key role in leading protests against the regime and despite going into hiding was finally arrested and sentenced to 8 years in prison. She was released from Hkamti prison under amnesty in October 2011.

  • Bo Kyi, former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) works tirelessly to secure the release of more than 2,000 Burmese people who have been jailed for their political beliefs. In 1990 he was arrested and spent more than seven years in Burma's notorious prisons before fleeing to the Thai-Burma border. In 2009 his work and that of his organisation was rewarded with the Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.

  • Ludu U Sein Win, one of Burma's most famous and respected journalists is also one of the most outspoken critics of the ruling regime. For decades his articles and writings have openly defied the authorities strict censorship rules but his condemnation has has had its price to pay. In 1967 he was sentenced without trial to 13 years in prison for his political writings, being jailed in Insein prison and Coco Island. He was released in 1976 but was re-arrested almost immediately and jailed for a further 4 years. He suffered a stroke in prison and despite being paralysed in his right side and in need of oxygen to aid his breathing he continues to defy the regime in writing two articles every day under a guise of different pseudonyms.

  • U Gambira, a former child soldier in the Burmese army at the age of 12, became a monk when his parents rescued him from the army. When the 88 Generation Students lead protests against the regime in August 2007 he help found the All Burma Monks Alliance and was instrumental in organising the monk lead Saffron Revolution. He was arrested in November 2007 having been in hiding and was sentenced to 68 years in prison. During his time in jail he was brutally tortured and de-robed from monkhood. He was released from prison on 13th January 2012 under a presidential amnesty and has immediately returned to continue his political activities working to bring democracy to Burma

  • Myo Myint, a former engineer in the Burmese army was almost killed when a mortar bomb landed next to him whilst fighting ethnic insurgents in Burma. He was so badly injured that he was discharged from the army and sent back to Rangoon with little compensation and huge mental and physical scars to heal. He joined the growing democracy movement in Rangoon, giving speeches during mass demonstrations in 1988 but was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison for his political activities. Upon his release in 2004 he fled Burma and now lives in exile in USA where he continues his fight in the struggle for democracy in Burma. His life story has been documented in the film 'Burma Soldier'.

  • Historically the student movement has played an important role in the struggle for democracy and in no greater shape than the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU). Sithu Maung and De Nyein Lin, both leading members of the ABFSU were both arrested for re-forming the outlawed organisation and their roles in leading the Saffron Revolution in 2007. Sithu Maung was sentenced to 11 years and whilst De Nyein Lin managed to evade arrest for over a year he was finally caught and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Both young men were released in January 2012 under a presidential amnesty and along with their colleagues, many of whom were also released, they have re-formed the ABFSU once again and continue their work to bring democracy to Burma in spite of the fear of re-arrest due to their political ativities

  • Phyo Phyo Aung, a student activist who had helped re-form the ABFSU during the Saffron Revolution in 2007, was arrested, along with her father Dr Nay Win, in June 2008 for organising the collection of bodies of victims of Cyclone Nargis for burial. She was sentenced to 4 years but was released from Moulmein prison in October 2011 under a general amnesty. She continues her political activities as general secretary of the ABFSU.

  • U Win Tin, Burma's most prominent former political prisoner, right hand man to Aung San Suu Kyi and founding member of the National League for Democracy (NLD). The veteran journalist, is one of Burma's foremost outspoken critics of the ruling military regime and despite having spent more than 19 years in Insein prison and faced with the constant danger of re-arrest, he continues to work tirelessly to promote democracy and human rights in Burma.

  • Myo Min Naing, a former political prisoner who spent 11 years behind bars for his political activities, is in charge of the DVB VJ network. With over 100 teams working inside Burma 24 hours a day, the VJs running the secret headquarters work all around the clock non stop to edit and broadcast the latest news from inside

  • Training of VJs recently arrived from inside Burma takes place in the secret headquarters. The latest technology and skills are required by all undercover reporters inside Burma. Old cameras used by VJs in the film 'Burma VJ' are on display to remind everyone of both the dangers involved but the success that can be gained

  • Dr Cynthia Maung, an ethnic Karen from Rangoon, has spent more than 20 years saving the lives of thouands of Burmese at the Mae Tao clinic on the Thai-Burma border. Fleeing Burma herself after the military coup in 1988 she founded the clinic in 1989 and today it provides healthcare to more than 300 people each day, many of whom travel from deep inside Burma where healthcare is all but non existent.

  • Portrait of 9KT a member of outlawed Burmese student activist organisation Generation Wave. The organisation was formed in 2007 after the Saffron Revolution in Burma and currently there are more than 20 members in prison for protesting against Burma's ruling military regime. Members of Generation Wave now live in exile on the Thai-Burma border where they are able to run their underground network of activists inside the country

  • Aung Zaw, editor and founder of the Burmese exiled media organisation 'The Irrawaddy' fled Burma in the aftermath of the mass uprisings in 1988. Founded in 1993 and formerly known as the 'Burma Information Group', the 'Irrawaddy' is regarded as one of the foremost journalistic organisations dealing with political, social, economic and cultural developments in Burma. With it's magazine, online multimedia prescence and with a number of undercover journalists working inside Burma, the Irrawaddy plays an important role in countering the regime's state propaganda and in documenting and exposing the truth.

  • Moe Thway, a founder and leader of Generation Wave at their secret office in Rangoon. Founded in the aftermath of the 'Saffron Revolution' in 2007, Generation Wave is an organisation of young social and political activists in Burma. Working closely with other politically active groups they are striving to promote democracy and human rights and have carried out a number of high profile campaigns, in particular calling for the release of all political prisoners. Until January 2012 there were 21 members of the organisation who were jailed for their political activities.

  • Members of Generation Wave meet at their secret office in Rangoon. Founded in the aftermath of the 'Saffron Revolution' in 2007, Generation Wave is an organisation of young social and political activists in Burma. Working closely with other politically active groups they are striving to promote democracy and human rights and have carried out a number of high profile campaigns, in particular calling for the release of all political prisoners. Until January 2012 there were 21 members of the organisation who were jailed for their political activities.

  • Youth members of the NLD provide security for Aung San Suu Kyi wherever she goes as the Burmese authorities provide no assistance at all. In 2003 she escaped unharmed when hundreds of her party were attacked and killed during an ambush whilst she was campaigning in Depayin

  • U Tin Oo, former vice-chairman of the NLD and former General and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, has spent more than 17 years in prison and under house arrest due to his political activities in Burma. He was first arrested in 1976 and charged with high treason. He has been arrested 3 times and was released from his latest sentence in February 2010.

  • Mya Aye, a leader of the 88 Generation Students was first arrested in 1989 and spent 7 years imprisoned for his role in the mass democracy uprising of 1988. In August 2007 he was arrested with his colleagues for leading peaceful protests that lead to the Saffron Revolution. He was sentenced to 65 years in Taunggyi prison where he suffered extreme ill health and was persistently denied medical care by the authorities. He was released under a presidential amnesty on 13th January 2012

  • Aung San Suu Kyi at her home in University Avenue, Rangoon. Burma's democracy icon and leader of the opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. She was released from her latest sentence in November 2010 and now continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma in spite of threats and oppression from the ruling miltary regime

  • Jimmy @ Kyaw Min Yu, a leader of the 88 Generation Students and husband of Nilar Thein, was first arrested in 1989 for his role in the mass student lead uprising of 1988. His original 7-year sentence was increased by 12 years when he contacted the UN about prison conditions. He was finally released in 2005 but was arrested again in 2007 when leading peaceful protests through the streets of Rangoon. He was sentenced to 65 years but was released from Taunggyi prison on 13th January 2012 under a presidential amnesty

  • The leaders of the 88 Generation Students arrive at their press conference in Rangoon. More than 500 people gathered in the Taw Win centre to hear the prominent pro-democracy activists speak for the first time since their release from prison

  • Kyaw San, a personal assistant to Aung San Suu Kyi, keeps watch at the foot of the staircase that leads up to her office. A former political prisoner, he was a founder member of the Tri Color student group that provided security to Aung San Suu Kyi in the 1990s. He was jailed and severely tortured numerous times between 1989 and 2011 due to his political activities and close association to the Lady

  • Phyu Phyu Thin, 37, has cared for HIV and AIDS patients since 2002, providing counseling and education, sending them to clinics and providing accommodation in Rangoon to those coming for treatment from outlying areas. Due to her political affiliation and strong support for the NLD, she faces harassment in her work and has been arrested and jailed on several occasions. Recently elected as a member of parliament for the NLD her role in society now takes on even greater importance

  • Founded in January 2001, the Free Funeral Service Society (FFSS) in Rangoon provides free funeral services to people unable to cover the costs of cremating relatives. Receiving more than 50 requests for funerals per day, over the past 12 years the organisation has paid for more than 100,000 funerals. The FFSS is run by current president and one of its founders, Kyaw Thu and is dependent solely on donations, receiving no assistance at all from the authorities. It also runs the Thukha Free Clinic, providing free basic medical care with a team of 50 doctors, 60 support staff and over 300 volunteers throughout the organisation as well as providing free English and computer classes with more than 500 students.

  • Mie Mie, a leader of the 88 Generation Students, participated in the 1988 uprising as a high school student and member of the ABFSU, DPNS and worked for the NLD. She was first arrested for 3 months in 1989 but in 1996 was involved in student protests and was jailed for 7 years. In August 2007 she lead protests in Rangoon but went into hiding when her colleagues in the 88 Generation Students were arrested. She was finally caught in October 2007 and was sentenced to 65 years. She was released from Katha prison on 13th January 2012 under a presidential amnesty

  • Zarganar is Burmas most famous comedian, actor and film director. Previously imprisoned several times for his political activities, he was arrested in June 2008 and sentenced to 35 years for delivering aid to survivors of Cyclone Nargis and talking to foreign journalists about the governments lack of action. He was released from Myitkyina prison under amnesty in October 2011

  • Ko Ko Gyi is one of the most prominent pro-democracy activists and a leader of the 88 Generation Students. In the 1988 uprisings he helped re-form the ABFSU and was elected vice-chairman. First arrested in December 1991 during the student led 10D movement, he was sentenced to 10 years and was released in 2005, 4 years after his sentence had expired. On release he helped form the 88 Generations Students. In 2007 he was arrested for leading peaceful protests in Rangoon and was sentenced to 65 years in prison. He was released from Mong Hsat prison under a presidential amnesty on Friday 13th January 2012

  • On 30th October 2008, Burmese lawyer Saw Kyaw Kyaw Min was sentenced to 6 months in jail for contempt of court for trying to call a government minister as a witness during a trial where he was defending prominent political activists in Insein prison, Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar). He went into hiding and fled to the Thai-Burma border.

  • Min Ko Naing, founder and Chairman of the ABFSU and leader of the 88 Generations Students, is one of Burma's most prominent opponents of the military regime. He led the student uprising in 1988 but was arrested a year later and jailed for 16 years. Released in 2005, along with colleagues, he formed the 88 Generations Students group. In August 2007 he led peaceful protests through the streets of Rangoon that would lead to the Saffron Revolution, but he was arrested and sentenced to 65 years in jail. On 13th January 2012 he was released from Thayet prison under a presidential amnesty and along with the 88 Generation Students he is set to play a critical role in shaping Burma's future

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