Friday, 22 January 2010 20:37 Kyaw Kha
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Veteran journalist Win Tin, a central executive committee member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), who spent 19 years in prison, returned to Rangoon on Friday after travelling out of the city for the first time since his release in September 2008.
During his three-day trip to Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin in central Burma he briefed members of the NLD from over 30 townships on the party’s political stand and its decision to expand the CEC and central committee.
“I explained that the expansion of the CEC was agreed to by all members. As for the political stand, the NLD continues to uphold its ‘Shwe Gon Dine’ declaration and I urged all members to stand firmly by it,” 81-year-old Win Tin told Mizzima.
Following his release, Win Tin, for the first time travelled out of Rangoon on January 19, to Mandalay to attend the birth centenary celebrations of the late veteran journalist Ludu U Hla.
He was denied a national identity card by the junta initially, without which travel in Burma is not possible, but given it later.
Win Tin, who is also the joint-chairman of the NLD, was accompanied by Ohn Kyaing, member of the CEC, Poet Phya Pone Ni Lone Oo (a.k.a) Aung Myint, chairman of the NLD Bahan township, and writer Monywa Aung Shin, vice-chair of the Sagaing Division Organising committee.
Win Tin said the main purpose of the trip was to attend the birth centenary of the late journalist Ludu U Hla, but they were able to meet party members from various townships in Mandalay including Pyin Oo Lwin.
“There were no major differences in our views during our meetings with different party members. One of main points that they all suggested was to work closely in unity and to give cognizance to the majority’s opinion,” Win Tin added.
Win Tin, one of the founders of the NLD, was arrested in 1989 for his involvement in the 1988 nation-wide uprising. He served more than 19 years in prison and was released on September 23, 2008.
He began his career as a journalist at the age of 13, and later became editor-in-chief of the Hantharwaddy newspaper. During his imprisonment, Win Tin wrote several papers related to the need for a political solution through dialogue, demanded the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and documented human rights violations inside the prison.
He received numerous awards for his works including the UNESC’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, Golden Pen of Freedom, and Reporters Without Border’s (RSF) award.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
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