Collective views on U Tin Oo’s release

Monday, 15 February 2010 11:59 Myint Maung

New Delhi (Mizzima) - The National League for Democracy (NLD) party Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo was released on Saturday evening after his six-year house arrest term ended.

U Tin Oo was arrested on 30 May 2003 after a mob backed by the military junta attacked him and NLD party general secretary Daw Aung Suu Kyi near Depayin town, Sagaing Division, while they were on a party organizational tour in upper Burma.

We present here opinions, feelings, aspirations and views on the release of the NLD leader and former Defence Services Commander-in-Chief U Tin Oo from house arrest. The NLD party recorded a landslide victory in the 1990 general elections.

U Win Tin

NLD party CEC member

Q: What are your feelings on uncle U Tin Oo’s release?

A: I feel happy and encouraged because he is an honest and politically committed person. And then he is very energetic in whatever he does. So we are encouraged by his release.

Another encouragement is on his saying that we must firmly hold on to the principles mentioned in Shwe Gong Daing Declaration and must work on this principle. This has encouraged us very much. Because this declaration is discussed, deliberated and approved by party leaders, MPs and grassroots level members at the party-congress-like meeting. It is very good to hear he will adhere to these principles mentioned in the declaration. Because we can resolve Burmese political issues only with the ‘Shwe Gong Daing’ declaration and we can face and challenge the military regime only with this declaration.

Another point is the demands made in this declaration such as releasing all political prisoners, amending the 2008 constitution, engaging in dialogue among others. They are the right demands. U Tin Oo’s view on going ahead with the Shwe Gong Daing is very significant and important while we assume the military regime must say something, settle something if we move along the line of these demands.

The main point is we are very much encouraged by his release from house arrest because of his honesty, frankness and high calibre, in-depth political knowledge and high study in this field. Another thing is we are politically encouraged because of his stand on the Shwe Gong Daing declaration which reflects the fundamental principles of our party which we have held for the last 20 years.

I met him yesterday. I visited him as soon as I heard he was released from house arrest through BBC last night. It was about 10 p.m. when I arrived. I talked with him for about half-an-hour. I’d like to highlight a point among others in conversation with him. He accepts the Depayin incident was a political conspiracy because the forces backed by junta such as the USDA (Union Solidarity and Development Association) turned their back on their own vociferous verbal attacks against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and stood with her while they were touring Mogok, Mandalay and Monywa just before this Depayin incident.

At that time his feeling was these forces such as USDA had collapsed. They are the backbone and background of the junta. In communist terms, they are the pillars of junta. They had collapsed, he thought because the people didn’t look at them or didn’t pay attention to them. They came and stayed around Daw Suu. Even the youths in USDA came to Daw Suu and called her mom. So, the people rallying around her suggested the backbone and pillar of the regime had collapsed. So, he thought the Depayin incident was a political conspiracy and political violence hatched and orchestrated by the regime. I think this is his important and significant analysis.

The next point is his comment regarding Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I think you heard it in the media. He said that he worked under the umbrella and he trusted a leader like Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This is a very significant and remarkable point. At this time, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the leader and we are shouting slogans of rallying around her politically, socially and culturally. Standing behind her is U Tin Oo, who is politically experienced, a seasoned politician, and was in an administrative career. He served as Defence Minister, Defence Services Commander-in-Chief, which is very much important and significant for us. This is my analysis.

Another important point is his standing on the democratic struggle. The 8888 uprising is the pro-democracy uprising led by student leaders such as Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi. Our country lost a lot by imprisoning these student leaders but we must go ahead with this pro-democracy uprising by holding the spirit, strength, goal and objective of the uprising. This uprising pushed him onto the political pedestal while he was a retired general. This uprising placed him at the forefront of the political movement. He never forgets these things. He told me that he must work for the freedom of these young student leaders and he would continue his unfinished task of struggle for democracy, which is also the goal, objective and aspirations of these young leaders.

Phyu Phyu Thin accompanied me when I visited him. He is fully aware of HIV awareness and prevention campaign being conducted by Phyu Phyu Thin. He fully supports these works. He told her that the youths must work in social affairs effectively and widely.

He told her that some his own relatives once contracted this deadly HIV virus. Some died. So he told her that he would join this campaign and support it. This is also important.

Q: How much is his release encouraging you for NLD organizational work and for organizational tours among the people?

A: He is a politically righteous person and an open minded person. He could make a significant analysis of the Depayin incident. Spiritually he has a cooperative mind and will provide a helping hand to young social activists like Phyu Phyu Thin and place high value on their noble work. And he is always ready to follow the leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. After hearing these things, we are very much encouraged politically.

The other thing is his nature. He always speaks forcefully, frankly and honestly. And also he is a believer. In the current situation, our NLD party is cut off to an extent from the people. I believe he can re-establish relations with the people and can overcome and cope with the current situation. He can make a breakthrough in it only with the spirit of U Tin Oo. We can be homogenous with our people again.

Q: What else would you like to say?

A: My birthday is on the same day as his. He is three years senior to me. I shall be 80 on 12 March. He will be 83 on the same day. But he is more active and healthy than me so I feel very happy to see that these people who can lead and work for the country are healthy.

Q: What are the differences in his health situation earlier and now?

A: He is quite thinner. I think he staged a (hunger) strike recently. Yes, he is quite thin. He told me that he has no serious disease when I asked him about his health condition. He had recently had an eye surgery with laser technique called shot with laser. He was treated at American Vision 4-5 days ago. I’d like to say his health is good. As I said before, his health condition is much better than mine.

U Ohn Kyaing

CEC member

National League for Democracy

Q: How do you feel about uncle U Tin Oo’s release from house arrest?

A: This is a crucial time for Burmese politics as the SPDC (junta) announced they would hold general elections in 2010. At the same time NLD announced it would contest this election only if the 2008 constitution is amended. The world called for national reconciliation which is crucial at this time. The international community called Senior Gen. Than Shwe to engage in dialogue with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. We think it is very encouraging to see a person such as NLD leader U Tin Oo released for both our party and national reconciliation in Burma.

Q: How much can uncle U Tin Oo work for the party?

A: He met the media yesterday and talked in keeping with party policies. He agreed with what our CEC is doing and he will follow the line adopted by CEC and will adhere to the principles mentioned in the Shwe Gong Daing declaration. We don’t need to decide and disclose yet on whether our party will contest this election or not since the contra side has not yet announced their plan in detail. He repeated and echoed what Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said. If contra side does not respond to the Shwe Gong Daing declaration, the matter of contesting the election will not arise, he said.

Daw Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein

UDP or Democratic Party

Q: How do you feel about NLD Vice-Chairman U Tin Oo being released?

A: We worked together when uncle U Tin Oo joined politics. He is like our uncle and he is smart and a respected person. I feel very happy to see he is released as he is respected in the army. As a politician, such an elder person and leader like uncle U Tin Oo can join NLD again and develop the party. Auntie feels happy as I think the release of uncle U Tin Oo will provide the best for the country.

He comes from the army, a retired general and a much respected and revered military leader in the armed forces during his time. Auntie thinks he can help create an understanding between politicians and armed forces under the current situation.

Thakin Chan Tun

Q: What expectations do you have after uncle U Tin Oo’s release?

A: This is a good omen and a good harbinger for us. So we support it and welcome it. At the same time I would like to request the union government to release all other political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. I’d like to request the junta to release them for the sake of prosperity and peaceful transition in our country. Dialogue is crucial for economy and development of our country. So I’d like to request the military leaders to engage in dialogue with the opposition.

Our country is suffering badly. At night, there’s no electricity and all of us are really disappointed and upset. In the day time too, we cannot do anything that must be run and operated only with electricity. Power cannot be provided regularly and round the clock in our country, even in former capital Rangoon.

However, the military leaders in Naypyitaw get electricity supply round the clock so they will not know the sufferings and feelings of the people. But the people are struggling for electricity daily. We are happy when electricity is restored and have to find candles and match boxes in the dark when there is a blackout. We are always worrying and anxious about accidents and disasters related to the blackout. We have to live with these anxieties and worries.

So I’d like to urge the top military leaders to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, student leaders like Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, ethnic leaders like U Khun Tun Oo, like they released U Tin Oo. I’d also like to urge them to engage in dialogue with these opposition leaders and cooperate with them for the development of our country.

(Edited by Ye Yint Aung)