Members of Parliament

 Situation Update of Members of Parliament in Burma

Members of Parliament. Click Here to Browse the Album (Updated on 27th May, 2007)

In the contemporary history of Burma, the 1990 General Elections have been recognized as a significant landmark. After 26 years of military dictatorship, the people of Burma got an opportunity to vote for a government of their choice. It was one of the free and fair elections that had taken place in the South-East Asia region at that decade.

But unfortunately, the election-results were not honored by the military regime. While pronouncing it has been going for democratic reforms, the junta has been launching a major offensive upon the opposition NLD since the 1990 elections result materialized. Afterwards, by fair means or foul, the junta's has repeatedly targeted to do away with the people's mandate that was given to the NLD in the 1990 General Elections.

On 30 April 2007, a seminar on Burma held on the sideline of the 116th Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Bali, Indonesia, had IPU delegates openly acknowledge that the Myanmar military junta’s misrule has a negative spill-over effect on the region and its stability. The Speaker of the Parliament of Indonesia, Agung Laksono, speaking at the seminar titled ‘Military Rule in Burma, Its Effects on the International Community and ASEAN’ said that all Parliamentarians have a genuine and unique role in encouraging the restoration of civil, political and democratic rights of the Burmese people.

“It is very clear that our destinies as neighbouring countries are to seriously address Myanmar’s deteriorating crises without delay,” said Agung, at the seminar jointly organized by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) and the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). Presenters at the seminar, held at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), the official IPU venue, also encouraged Indonesia and ASEAN to support a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution on Burma.

ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) calls on the military junta to cooperate with ASEAN and the international community to bring about changes and democratic reforms in the country through political dialogue with the NLD and ethnic leaders. The caucus repeatedly calls on unconditional release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, ethnic leaders and elected MPs.

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) also urges the military authorities of Burma to release all MPs-elect still in detention immediately and unconditionally, and to guarantee their physical integrity and respect for their right to freedom of expression, assembly and association as their duty commands.

Currently, situation of Members of Parliament in Burma can be observed through the following abstract summary. 

Abstract Summary of MPs' Situation

Description of the above ''Table''

Parliamentarians who passed away in custody:
1. Tin Maung Win, NLD MP, Kha-yan Constituency (1), Rangoon Division, passed away on 18 January 1991.
2. Hla Than, NLD MP, Coco Islands Constituency, Rangoon Division, died on 2 August 1996.
3. Saw Win (a.k.a) Kyaw Zaw Lin, NLD MP, Htee Lin Constituency, Magwe Division, died on 7 August 1998.

Parliamentarians who passed away soon after their release:
1. Kyaw Min, NLD MP, Bassein West Constituency (2), Irrawaddy Division, passed away on 1 July 1999.
2. San San Win (F), NLD MP, Ahlon Constituency, Rangoon Division, passed away in 2000.
3. Hla Maung POCL MP & CRPP Member, Kya-in-seik-kyi Constituency, Karen State, passed away on 27 Nov. 2003.

Parliamentarians who were assassinated:
1. Win Ko, exiled NLD MP, Ye Oo Constituency (2), Sagaing Division, was assassinated in Kumming, China, on 1 November 1992.
2. Hla Pe, exiled NLD MP, Pyaw Bwe Constituency (2), Mandalay Division, was assassinated outside Bangkok, Thailand, on 16 June 1993.

Parliamentarians who remain in prison:
• Although international community calls for releasing all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, the military regime has still kept on detaining 12 MPs in its notorious prisons as yet.
• Out of 12 MPs in prison, 10 belong to the NLD.
• Please find the details of 12 imprisoned MPs in the following table as of 27th May 2007.

12 Members of Parliament who remain in Prison

Notable Notes:

(1) Khun Htun Oo, chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), was detained on 9 Feb. 2005 together with 7 other Shan leaders. The election winning SNLD party opposed the SPDC's National Convention while other Shan ceasefire groups are attending the convention. Khun Htun Oo was sentenced to 93 years imprisonment on 3 November 2005.

(2) Although Dr May Win Myint (F) was put into prison since 28 October 1997 and finished serving her 7½ years prison term in 2004, but was given another one year additional sentence under Act 10A on 31 January 2007. It was the sixth time the junta sentenced her under Act 10A. She has been suffering from eye, blood and heart diseases, and she has to be taken to the hospital monthly for medical check-ups. On 12 April, she was taken to the Rangoon General Hospital, for the treatments of the worsening throat diseases she has been enduring, according to her family.


(3) Dr Than Nyein was given another one year additional sentence under Act 10A on 18 January 2007. It was the sixth time the junta sentenced him under Act 10A. According to his wife Daw Khin Aye, Dr. Than Nyein who is being detained in Prome (Pyay) prison, has been suffering from cancerous prostate and liver diseases. The prison authorities do not allow Dr. Than Nyein to meet specialist physicians for his prostate and liver complaints for nearly 3 years. He has put into prison for 7-year term on 28 October 1997 and already finished it since 2004.

(4) U Kyaw San, National League for Democracy (NLD) chairman of Sagaing Division and the elected representative (MP) of Tant-se Township, has been detained since 17 March 2005 in Insein Prison. He was sentenced to seven years in prison on 6 June for allegedly keeping illegal goods belonging to Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) which signed ceasefire agreements with the ruling junta. Although DKBA leader Col Saw Chit Thu, in a letter to the court, testified that the goods had nothing involved with Kyaw San, the judge did not take into account. As a 75-year old person, his health situation is poor. Moreover, this is his second time in jail.

(5) U Kyaw Min, the elected MP from National Democratic Party for Human Rights (NDPHR) and a member of the CRPP, was detained on 17 March 2005, A statement was released by CRPP on last Union Day, in which U Kyaw Min took in active part. Besides, he met with ILO delegation, which visited Burma on 21st to 23rd of February 2005. He was sentenced to 47 years imprisonment on 29 July 2005. His wife, two daughters and a son were also sentenced to 17 years respectively.

(6) U Kyaw Khin was rearrested because he shared a list of awards won by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the international community, to a school girl who wants to know about her. In 1996, he was arrested for urging the military junta to sit at the dialogue table together with the NLD leaders and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released from Thayet prison on 3 January, 2005. He was rearrested on 25 February 2005 and sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.
(7) Although U Saw Hlaing was arrested for his active political role, he was charged with keeping broken “unlicensed” computers according to his family. He was arrested on 30 March 2005 and sentenced 14 years in prison on 26 May 2005 accusing him of breaking Publication Act 16 & 20 at the Kathar District Court. U Saw Hlaing was not allowed to see a lawyer during trial.

(8) Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, elected representative of Mandalay Division – Amarapura Constituency, has been serving a lengthy jail term at Myinkyina Prison, is said to be quite ill. Zaw Myint Maung has been suffering from severe indigestion and unable to eat properly, according to his wife Dr. Yu Yu May who went to see him at the prison recently in remote northern Burma. He has been in junta’s jail since November 1990.

 32 Members of Parliament in Exile

Total MPs in exile = 32 (as of 27th May 2007)
Remark: There may be some MPs who came out of the country holding passports issued by the military authorities as they agreed to stay away from anti-junta politics. They visited foreign countries in order to do business or to take medical treatment there. They never declared themselves as dissidents or exile MPs against the SPDC.
╬ Win Hlaing is the latest MP in exile, who escaped from Rangoon to Thailand in February, 2007. He spent over 8 years in junta’s notorious prison from October 1990 to January 1999.

 97 MPs Who Passed Away

Acronyms

CNLD = Chin National League for Democracy
CRPP = Committee Representing the People's Parliament
DOKNU = Democratic Organization for Kayan National Unity
KSNCD = Kachin State National Congress for Democracy
KSNO = Karen State National Organization
LNDP = Lahu National Development Party
MNDF = Mon National Democratic Front
NDPHR = National Democratic Party for Human Rights
NHRPP = Naga Hills Regional Progressive Party
NLD = National League for Democracy
NUP = National Unity Party (Former BSPP)
PND = Party for National Democracy
POCL = Patriotic Old Comrades League
SNLD = Shan Nationalities League for Democracy
SSKDP = Shan State Kokang Democratic Party
UNLD = United Nationalities League for Democracy
ZNC = Zomi National Congress

Updated on 27th April 2007 by Zin Linn, Information Team, NCGUB

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