In Her Father’s Footsteps

By THE IRRAWADDY

Wai Hnin Pwint Thon studies economics in London. She is the eldest daughter of Mya Aye, a leader of the 88 Generation Student Group who is detained in Loikaw Prison in Kayah (Karenni) State. She is a campaign officer in the London-based Burma Campaign UK. Her father was arrested again along with Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi because of his involvement in the demonstrations in August 2007. She talked to The Irrawaddy about her campaign work and life in Britain.

Question: You were very young when your father was first arrested.

Answer: My father was sentenced to eight years in jail when I was five months old. When I first saw him, I was four years old. My mother showed me his photograph and taught me to call him “Daddy” during that time. I recognized him as my father in my heart. When I saw him for the first time, he was behind iron bars, and I only had a chance to touch his fingers, and we couldn’t hug each other. When I was eight years old, I again saw my father [when he was released from prison].

Q: When did you understand that your father is a politician?

A: When my mother took me to see him in Insein Prison the first time, I just knew that I was going to see my father. I didn’t expect to go to such a place [like prison] and the experience was very surprising to me. But after my mother was able to talk to me about him, I respected him very much and felt very sorrow for his life.

After being released from jail, my father has continued to be involved in politics. In 2004 when many political prisoners were released who came from the 88 Generation Students Group, he joined the group again. Since then, I have been worried about when he was going to be arrested again.

I graduated in 2005, and prepared to go to the university. But I didn’t have a chance to study what I wished [in Burma]. My parents decided to send me abroad to receive a quality education. The last time I saw my father was two years ago. Although I studied in London, I kept up with his continuous involvement in politics.

On the morning of August 22, 2007, I phoned just before he was arrested. I asked him if his political activities were going well and told him that it really encouraged me because many people supported his group. But when I told him to do things cautiously, he said: “Don’t worry. The change in our country is going to happen.” That evening, I received a call that my father was arrested.

I said, “No, I phoned him just this morning.” Even though I expected it to happen one day, I was shocked when I heard the news. My father had told me to expect it, so I cope with the situation and continue to do what I should do.

I left for London in November 2006. My father was sentenced to 65 years in prison, and I am doing whatever I can in the movement to work for the release all political prisoners. My mission is to work for the release of my father and the freedom of all Burmese people.

Q: What do you want to say about the signature campaign for the release of all political prisoners?

A: I am so happy to see that everybody is taking part, to some extent, in this movement. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi once said that if the country is to reconcile, all political prisoners must be freed. If they are released, that’s the first step.

Q: What is your understanding of the human rights situation in Burma?

A: I knew my father was involved in politics because of the suffering of the people. I knew how atrocious this regime is. From the speeches of U Min Ko Naing, U Pyong Cho and U Ko Ko Gyi, I knew what they wanted—human rights and democracy. But since I never lived under human rights, I didn’t know what human rights were.

Only when I came to Britain did I see human rights and realize that they relate to all the people. For example, students here have the right to study whatever they wish. Students want to study new things and to do what they believe in. But for students in Rangoon, as soon as they enter a university campus, it feels like a small prison. The library has nothing and the classrooms don’t have enough material. No computers.

Burmese people are normally called prisoners only when they live in a prison. But living in Burma feels like living behind bars. For instance, people can’t read what they want to, use the Internet freely or express their beliefs. All the people of Burma are prisoners.
Although I heard about human rights when I was living in Burma, I didn’t understand the essence of human rights because I never lived under that situation.

Q: Did you experience any discrimination in your secondary school because your father is a politician.

A: At that time, my friends didn’t know my father was a politician, because I didn’t have a chance to express it. When I was young, my friends didn’t know about political prisoners. When I learned about political prisoners, I explained it to my friends, but they didn’t want to hear about it. They said, “We understand you and respect your father.
But please don’t talk to me about him. Our parents are doing business, and we don’t want to get involved in it.”

It was a limitation, because my friends were afraid of getting into trouble. The only real friends I have are my father, U Min Ko Naing, U Pyong Cho and U Ko Ko Gyi. I learned a lot from them. They are the only group that I have regular conversations with.

Apart from conversations with them, I spend my time helping my mother and studying my school lessons. I rarely go out for leisure time. Writing is my hobby. I didn’t have many friends when I was young.

Q: What else do you want to say about Burma and the campaign for national reconciliation?

A: I will never give up. Buddha taught: nothing is permanent, everything changes. When change happens [in Burma], we can all live together happily. The military government will reap what it sowed. The same people can’t always hold on to power.