Learn more about Burma’s other imprisoned heroes.

Nilar Thein and Kyaw Min Yu “Jimmy” are prominent ’88 student generation Burmese democracy activists, described by the SPDC as “terrorists.” On August 19th, Nilar and Jimmy had led some of the anti-government protests during the Saffron Revolution, demonstrating against the sharp increases of the prices of fuel, fuel needed to acquire basic necessities needed to survive such as food and travel. After brutal violence erupted perpetrated by the military, Jimmy, on August 21st, 2007,  was arrested along with 13 other prominent 88 Generation Student group activists, including Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi. The day after, Nilar Thein had gathered about 500 people to call for the release of the political prisoners and to continue the demonstrations against fuel prices. But soon afterward, for fear of her safety and detainment, Nilar Thein had to go into hiding.

Nilar Thein had been arrested before. She was a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU) as a high school student in 1988 and because of her political involvement was arrested. Her first arrest  was in 1991 and was detained for two months. Her second arrest was in 1996 for supposedly slapping a high ranking officer who had tried to stop her during a student demonstration and was jailed until 2005, the year of her release.

Considering the dangerous conditions of her lifestyle, she had to make the heartbreaking decision to leave her baby daughter, Nay Chi Min Yu, with her elderly parents. During her absence, the authorities used to guard her home in case Nilar Thein came back to visit. Rumors went around saying that her husband, who had already spent 16 years in prison after the 88′ Uprising, had died during imprisonment, but were later found to be rumors begun by the military to tempt Nilar Thein to give herself in, which she didn’t. While evading the military regime, she continued to appeal to the international community to help resolve the grave human rights situation in Burma. September 10, 2008, she was caught and later interrogated. Now, she risks inhumane torture and psychological abuse at Thayet Prison. While Jimmy Thein is allowed to see his daughter, the regime refuses to allow Nilar Thein to see, much less touch, her baby.

Though the regime resents her political activity, Nilar Thein is respected world-wide for her political dissent and fight for human rights. In March, she and two other of her colleagues, Su Su Nway and Phyu Phyu Thin, received the Homo Homini Award for their promotion of democracy and human rights in a politically chaotic Burma.

Learn more about Burma’s other imprisoned heroes.