(Interview with an elected representative from Khayan constituency)

 
Burma Digest: Can you please tell us about your political life in brief?

U Kyaw Thwin: I was born on December 12, 1955. In 1967, I took part in the Burmese-Chinese Crisis as a junior student leader. In 1974, I took part in the University Students' Boycott, for U Thant's funeral as a member of Mandalay Hall Committee. After that, I tried to join the revolution groups and I was arrested by the BSPP government and was sentenced for ( 3 ) years. I was released from Insein Prison in 1977. Then I was arrested often but not for long time, sometimes for (3) months and sometimes only (2) weeks and so on. When People Uprising took place in 1988, I participated as one of the leaders of Khayan Township, in Rangoon Division. I became one of the members of National League for Democracy Party in October, 1988. I was also the chairman of the NLD Khayan Township. I was elected as a member of Parliament in 1990 election on behalf of NLD. I attended the Mandalay meeting which was held in Mandalay in September, 1990 to form the parallel Government. While I   was trying to go to Thai-Burma border, I was arrested and sentenced for long life, 25 years, for trying to oppose the Military government. I was released from Insein Prison in 1996. Then, I was arrested for the third time in 1998 and released in 2000. I left from Burma to Thailand in April, 2004. Now I stay in Norway and I am the chairman of NLD (LA) Norway. I am also a member of MPU (Member of Parliament Union) Burma. 

Burma Digest: Please describe how you campaigned in 1990 for the election victory.

U Kyaw Thwin: Although it had been for 16 years, in my soul and in my heart, it seemed yesterday or the day before yesterday. At that moment , we had only 3 months to do the election campaign. We formed an election victory committee with the NLD members and NLD supporters.  Because of the 8888 sprits, people supported us so much. My constituency was very wide and it is difficult to travel from one place to another. Most of are villages and we went all of the villages. We delivered the pamphlets of my biography and manifesto of NLD .We made many meetings with the voters. We explained the people that if NLD won the election, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would be released surely and we would get the democracy surely. Besides , we explained about our future country. We compared the last situations and the future situations. Whenever we arrived at the village, the first place we went to was the monastery. At that moment, all of the Sayadaws supported us so much. Every monastery in every village was the stage for us to canvass the voters. 

Burma Digest: How you felt when you learnt that you’ve won in your constituency?

U Kyaw Thwin: When I learnt that I've won in my constituency, I felt very happy. I was satisfied hoping I could do a lot of work for my town and for my country. I was also satisfied with me that I was going to do for our heroes who had given their lives in the People Uprising.

Burma Digest: When it first became clear in your mind that military regime would not handover power?

U Kyaw Thwin: On July 27,1990. On that day the SLORC  declared the statement of 1/90.After hearing the statement, I believed that the military regime would not handover power.

Burma Digest: How do you feel about the regime’s persistent refusal to recognize NLD’s election victory?

U Kyaw Thwin: I felt very disappointed but not amazing because they are military dictators. I felt that they would try to grip the power for long life by doing the meaningless and shameful processes. For me, I never accept their refusal. The 1990 election is the figure of the people's spirit and if it is not alive, it will never disappear. The truth must win. 

 

Burma Digest: Do you think that 1990 election results are still valid?

U Kyaw Thwin: I really and strongly think that 1990 election results are still valid. Because most of the people of Burma still accept and the whole world also still accept it. Even SPDC dare not announce legally that the 1990 election results are not valid. 

Burma Digest: SPDC is saying that NLD is no longer relevant, how will you reply?

U Kyaw Thwin: It is very funny. Although they are the generals, they have no courage. It is like that the authorized person standing in front of the prison cell told  the political prisoner who was worn handcuff and was fettered, "What are you able, aren't you?"  It is a joke. It is a very funny joke. I want to challenge to SPDC that if they really say those words ,release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi ,U Tin Oo,U Khun Htun Oo and all the other political prisoners at once, open all the NLD offices at once and allow to do the political activities. At that time, I dare say that they will really know NLD is no longer relevant or not.
 

Burma Digest: How do you see the current situations in Burma?

U Kyaw Thwin: The current situations in Burma are the same as before 8888 People's Crisis. Most of the people are in trouble deeply. The inflation rate is the highest. No good health care system, the HIV and AIDS problems, low education standards, and general feeling of insecurity in the society are seriously dangerous. The civil war is seriously flaring up again as the SPDC's army is seriously attacking on the Karen ethnic group. The shameful national conversion stopped again. The leader of SPDC griped the power changing the positions of the generals under his control. For the people, although they face with so many problems, they are still keeping the anger waiting for the changes. It seems that they hope the NLD or the MPs or the student leaders would do something. I believe that something will be changed in Burma in 2006.

Burma Digest: How do you think we should do to force or pressure SPDC to start serious negotiations with democratic forces?

U Kyaw Thwin: First ,we must prepare in our side. If we want to give pressure to SPDC, we must have the equal strength to SPDC. We must build the unity among all the democratic forces inside and outside Burma. For inside Burma, the NLD, the ethnic national groups, the students, the workers and the farmers must be united more and should form the Forum. For outside Burma, it is the same. We should form the only one Forum for Burma. Now, there are so many democratic groups all over the world. But they are separate. I believe that if we can form the only one League for Burma, we can give the pressure to SPDC. Why can't we form the only one League? I hope it will be soon. Secondly, we should change the technique. We should do in so many ways. Our goal is to get the Democracy inside Burma. That's why we should seek the right ways in a short time. The main fact we must know is that the SPDC is the military dictatorship. Not normal.

Burma Digest: Do you think United Nations will be able to successfully help bring about democratic reforms in Burma?

U Kyaw Thwin: Yes, I do. According to the current situations, the United Nations is the most important and responsible Organization to do the democratic reforms in Burma. I think the Burma's agenda will be addressed in the UNSC and the UN can help bring about democratic reforms in Burma in this year,2006.