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Hoping for freedom

(Talking with an NLD representative by Raluca Enescu)

            Having the chance to talk to someone like Dr Win Naing, chairman of the NLD-liberated area in UK and one of the most active Burmese exiled dissidents, it was justified to ask about almost everything our concerns lead to nowadays. Learning from his memories and from his hopes for the future, we can’t help but feel more aware of our concerns and, I would say, firstly, more confident in our mission or fighting for justice and freedom. Because Dr Win Naing is a person of that kind who, trough their ambitious work, and trough their good-sensed ideas always offer a guiding light.  

 As for thousands of other political dissidents in Burma, life has not been easy for him.

During the Student's Protest in 1967, he acted as a medical college student organiser for the Mandalay University Students Strike and was put into Mandalay Prison for few weeks.

Later, after graduating from Mandalay Institute in 1970, was sent to a remote area in Arakan Division ( Gwa ), as a medical officer, as a punishment for his political beliefs and involvement.

During the 8/8/’88 uprising, he led the people in the Prome District ( Pegu Division & native town of General Ne Win ,as the Camp Officer of the General Strike Committee.

“The Strike Committee based at the Town Hall & the committee based at my medical Clinic opposite to the Town Hall. I Also acted as the General Secretary of the Township Peace Committee led by the chief monks of Prome District. General Strike Committee consisted of 13 , members including Buddhist monk, teachers, Bnak Manager, Timber Corporation Manager,Civil Servants and students.Supervise the Strike Committee by daily meetings for the daily procceedings and on the otherhand, manage the peace and management of the Township Office for the security affairs with Fire Squad, Young Monk Association & Red Cross Association.” He remembers.

After the military coup in Sep;1988 , he organised the people from Prome District for N.L.D acting as General Secretary.

Following NLD’s landslide victory, the regime put up the 1/90 act to avoid the transfer

of people's power to N.L.D. “As in need of the opposition Government outside Burma the West Pegu N.l.D, organisation committee members, Aung Saw Oo, myself, Than Htut ( Pauk

Kaung ), MPs in Pegu Divisions, contacted Upper Burma M.P s including my own brother U Win Ko ( Minister in N.C.G.U.B & assassinated in China ) to form an exile  government outside Burma.” Dr Win Naing says.

Meetings were held at Prome & Pauk Kaung , between the Pegu West Organisation Committee & Upper Burma MPs;  Then,it has been decided for an exile govermen to be set up .The Committee went down to Rangoon & requested Dr.Sein Win to participate in the activity.

The necessary preparations were done & members of exile gov; left to Thailand in different

Groups .All the necessary back up arrangements were done by Dr Win Naing from Prome.

After the exile group left, military intelligence agents arrested a lot of the members of Pegu Division Organisation Committee,

Dr.Win Naing narrowly escaped during his medical check up in Rangoon and was kept by an owner of Chicken brewery outside Rangoon.

           When the military investigation finished, Dr.Win Naing left Burma to U.K. Now, he is the representative of N.L.D ( L.A )for U.K & Europe and executive Committee member of Burmese Democratic Movement Association  ( B.D.M.A -U.K ), as well as working as a psychiatrist in National Health Service.  

 We had a chance, at the Burma Digest, to ask him a few questions;

Burma Digest: At this moment, what are your views and feeling concerning Burma's democracy movement?

Dr. Win Naing: As a strike leader of 1988 uprisal in Burma, I sincerely believe that we are really on our way to democracy , although the current political confusion due to the regime, which also is under enormous pressure from international community, their days are being counted

Burma Digest: What do you think about the report by Vaclav Havel and archibishop Desmond Tutu calling for the United Nations'Security Council to act on Burma? Do you think it has reached its goal?

Dr. Win Naing: This compiled report of is a great effort which highlighted the real facts and had great impact on the regime.I would like to request each and every member of the international community and also our brothers and sisters who are currently in abroad , to use your tremendous unity to promote our cause to be able to put up to U.N.S.C ,as a matter of urgency. 

Burma Digest: Last December, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution by consensus and called for the release of political prisoners and a credible and inclusive political process. The US had supported and lobbied hard when the EU proposed the UN General Assembly to adopt that resolution on human rights in Burma. Do you have any idea for the EU in return how to cooperate with the US in multilateral initiatives?

Dr. Win Naing: . I would like to advise the E.U personals not to be soft with notorious regime, just to use the same language as the U.S government; otherwise it will be just lengthening the duration of struggle for our people

Burma Digest: Because the ASEAN's engagement   policy has not paid off, its diplomatic efforts to approach Burma has been apparently alternative. In this scenario, do you think the EU should cooperate with the ASEAN by holding on current sanctions or even taking a tougher step on the junta?

Dr. Win Naing: The E.U and ASEAN governments are trying their best to communicate the generals, but some of them are trying by soft approach which I sincerely think is just waste of everything as the foolish generals will be more manipulative than they consider and the generals will misuse them for legitimacy. 

Burma Digest: . I know that now, you are chairman of the NLD-LA in the UK. How do you feel about your work at this moment?

Dr. Win Naing: Being mandated by Daw Suu, I am quite happy and confident that I am doing whatever I can  from my side and also achieved the feedback from my comrades, inside & outside our motherland, with their satifactory reports for my workload.

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