Freed NLD leader back into thick of party work

Saturday, 06 March 2010 16:14 Salai Han Thar San

New Delhi (Mizzima) - National League for Democracy’s vice-chairman Tin Oo, freed recently, resumed party activities in full vigour as the chairman of the party central committee’s legal team on Thursday.

“Though I was under house arrest for a long time, I was aware of goings on outside with the help of the media and know the junta has been prosecuting and sentencing our members on questionable legal lines,” Tin Oo told Mizzima on Friday.

As chairman of the legal team, he is determined to work on bringing down the number of cases against party members charged on false grounds and sentenced, he said.

Tin Oo, who was released in February after six years under house arrest, said he thanked all party members for carrying out party activities responsibly in his absence.

Meanwhile, the NLD’s spokesperson Nyan Win said he is delighted and encouraged that Tin Oo will serve as the chairman of the legal team, because he is capable and has experience.

According to Tin Oo, there are over 150 cases, where the NLD legal team is providing assistance. It is ready to provide further assistance in future, if party members from states and divisions need it.

The team provides legal advice to the NLD’s central executive committee, and pro-bono legal services to members and non-members arrested and charged in political cases.

The legal team was formed over a decade ago on the suggestions of Tin Oo. Though he served as the chairman of the team, since he was under house arrest, NLD chairman Aung Shwe took temporary charge.

With the ailing Aung Shwe unable to continue working, on the party general secretary Aung San Suu Kyi’s suggestion, Supreme Court advocate Kyi Win was appointed vice-chairman of the team on November 21, 2009.

Kyi Win, who is also the lawyer for detained Nobel Peace Laureate has been providing legal assistance to NLD members for the past decade.

The current legal team comprises 10 members including Tin Oo, Kyi Win, Nyan Win, Thein Nyunt, Aung Thein, Win Myint, Tun Tun Hein, Myint Thaung, and woman lawyer Khin Htay Kywe.