Win Tin

U Win Tin Timeline March 12, 1930 1943 1950 - 1954

Born in Kyoe Pin Kawt, Pegu Division, to U Pu and Daw Amar. At just 13 years of age, starts his career in journalism at the "Ahkyo Saung Journal". Works as an Assistant Editor at the Burma Translation Society.

(pmayAdrmef vufaxmuft,f'Dwm) 1953 1953

Studies at Rangoon University where he receives a Bachelor of Arts [B.A] in English Literature, Modern History and Political Science. Works as the night program editor for a foreign news agency, Agence France-Presse (AFP). Becomes an Advisory Editor of the Burmese Translation Group.

(attufzfyD EdkifiHjcm;owif;Xme nbufydkif; t,f'Dwm)

1954

(pmayAdrmef vufaxmuft,f'Dwm) 1954-57

Serves as a consultant as well as a trainee in the Djambartan Publication Company, based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

wdkYjynfowif;

1957- 69 1968 1969

Publishes the newspaper " ", a collection of news from Burma which is distributed among Burmese living outside Burma. Co-founds the Mirror Daily Newspaper, becoming executive editor. One of the oldest newspapers in Burma, Hanthawaddy Daily, is nationalized by the Burmese Socialist Program Party [BSPP] and moved to Mandalay in central Burma. Appointed as the Editor-in-Chief at Hanthawaddy. Speculation that U Win Tin is well respected at this time by Burma’s military leader, General Ne Win. Travels to many Asian and Western countries as the Editor of Hanthawaddy. Organizes the famous literacy program, Mandalay Saturday Reading Club , in which many prominent journalists, writers and historians participate, such as Lutu U Hla, Lutu Daw Amar, Maung Swan Ye, Dr. Than Htun, Mg Thar Noe, Tin Moe, Kyi Aung and Ko Lay.

(rEåav;pae pmzwf0dkif;)

Later, anti-government letters and articles are presented in the Mandalay Saturday Reading Club , drawing the ire of government officials. Hanthawaddy is shut down by the BSPP due to U Win Tin's editorial

(rEåav;pae pmzwf0dkif;)

1978

critiques against the government as well as the activities of the Mandalay Saturday Reading Club 1988

Later, he starts to write many articles, critical essays and research papers. Vice-chairman of the Journalists Union during the 1988 uprising.

(pma&;q&mrsm; or*¾) Actively writes articles in the "Union News" which is published by the Students Union. Publishes the "Forum Journal" on 30 August, 1988. "

qE´azmfoH owif;pm"

Joins the National League for Democracy (NLD) and is appointed as a Member of the Central Executive Committee. 1988 June 6, 1989

Becomes Secretary of the NLD when U Aung Gyi quits in December. Acts as a Member of the Central Executive Committee of the NLD and a close advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi. Challenges the government's announcement No. 38, which limits the activities of political parties. Organizes civil disobedience by stating "It is our responsibility to oppose illegitimate law and order".

tpdk;&\ omoema&;ESifh jynfxJa&;0efBuD;XmerS EdkifiHa&;ygwDrsm; vGwfvyfpGma&;om;xkwfazmf pnf;½kH;cGifhudk ydwfyifaom aMujimcsuftrSwf 38 udk xkwfjyefaomtcg ]trsm;jynfol oabmrwlwJh trdefUtmPm [lorQ wm0eft& zDqefMu} [laom aqmifyk'fudk OD;0if;wifrS a&;om;cJhonf/ July 4, 1989 Oct, 1989

June, 1992 1994

Arrested by the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which later refashions itself as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). Formally charged with a criminal offence and sentenced to three years hard labor for having offered hospitality to an NLD member whose companion had allegedly undergone a criminal abortion. On these grounds he is accused of sheltering a criminal under Article 216 of the Criminal Code Sentenced to an additional 10 years imprisonment under Section 5(j) of the 1950 Emergency Provisions Act. Writes "Suu-Slorc dialogue". “ "

awGYqHkaqG;aEG;tajz&Sma&;

Releases a statement calling on the government "to release Aung San Suu Kyi," "to stop the National Convention,"and "to start genuine dialogue." Demands the immediate initiation of tripartite dialogue, announcing that

1994 1995

"tripartite" is the only way to solve the political deadlock. US Congressman Bill Richardson meets with him in prison. Releases a letter, "Appeal to the world," asking the international community to take action against the SPDC government. Releases a letter, "Appeal to the public," urging the world to condemn the SPDC.

July, 1995 March 28, 1996 September, 1997 October 10, 1997

Advises Aung San Suu Kyi that the NLD should resign from the National Convention, urging the opposition leader to pursue two immediate tasks: (1) (NLD) Party reform, and (2) National Convention reform. Hands over a 93-page report, "Human Rights violations in the prison," to the UN General Assembly via the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Professor Yozo Yokota. Receives an additional seven years imprisonment under suspicion of smuggling a letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma regarding the ill-treatment and poor conditions in the prison. Admitted to Rangoon General Hospital due to cardiac problems.

Authorities admit that U Win Tin has been taken to the hospital in order to have additional medical treatment. It is not known for how long he remains in the hospital. 2001 Awarded the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. 2001 Awarded the World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award. Nov, 2002 Transferred to Rangoon General Hospital due to a heart problem. June, 2003 Returns to the Insein Prison. Dec, 2003 Visited by Amnesty International. 2006 Receives the Reporters Without Borders award. Oct, 2007 Human Rights Special Rapporteur Paulo Sergio Pinheiro meets U Win Tin during his trip of inspection following the September crackdown in Burma. Jan 2008 Undergoes a second hernia operation. June 2008 Suffers from asthma and spondylitis (inflammation of the vertebrae). Many report that he is in need of dental treatment and appears to have eyesight problems. He is also reported to be wearing an ill-fitting neck brace, causing discomfort. August 4, 2008 Meets with the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights, Tomas Ojea Quintana.

Books written

tvS&SmyHkawmf urmeDwGifw'*F AD,uferfatmifyGJ ajcrSm pum;vufzsm;uAsm uGd (bmomjyef) Ow& tvif; (bmomjyef) jynfolwdkY&Jh pum;jyef