Nilar Thein Arrested, Sources Say

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By MIN LWIN Thursday, September 11, 2008

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Burmese security forces have reportedly hunted down and arrested the prominent woman activist Nilar Thein, who went into hiding one year ago.

Aung Tun, brother of jailed activist Ko Ko Gyi, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that Nilar Thein was arrested on Wednesday, but he could provide no further details. Another, unnamed activist said she was seized as she moved hiding places.


In happier times—Kyaw Min Yu, his wife Nilar Thein and their baby daughter Phyu Nay Kyi Min Yu
Nilar Thein went into hiding, leaving her young baby with family members, as police and troops rounded up participants in the mass demonstrations in Rangoon and other cities last August and September.

Nilar Thein’s husband, Kyaw Min Yu, also known as Jimmy, was arrested on August 21, 2007, along with 12 other leaders of the 88 Generation Students group, including Ko Ko Gyi, Min Ko Naing, Htay Win Aung, Min Zeya and Mya Aye. They had led a demonstration on August 19 against sharp increases in the price of fuel and other commodities.

Nilar Thein had already served two terms of imprisonment in Insein and Tharrawaddy prisons for her involvement in political activities.

In March, she and two of her colleagues—Su Su Nway and Phyu Phyu Thin—received the Czech Republic’s Homo Homini award for their promotion of democracy, human rights and nonviolent solutions to political conflicts.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14229