Mie Mie

Mie Mie
Mie Mie at a "Saffron Revolution" protest in Yangon, August 2007

Thin Thin Aye (Burmese: သင်းသင်းအေး, pronounced [θɪ́ɴ θɪ́ɴ ʔé]; better known as Mie Mie (မီးမီး, [mí mí]); b. 1970), is a currently imprisoned Burmese democracy activist who played a leadership role in numerous anti-government protests. Amnesty International considers her to be a prisoner of conscience.[1]

Contents

8888 uprising and 1996 arrest

In the summer of 1988, a series of protests escalated in Yangon and other cities demanding the resignation of General Ne Win, Burma's military ruler.[2] These protests took their name from the date of the largest march, 8-8-88.[2] Mie Mie, a 10th-grade high school student at the time, joined the uprising and became active in the All Burma Federation of Student Unions.[3][4] On 7 March 1989, she was arrested for the first time for distributing fliers commemorating the one-year anniversary of the death of Phone Maw, whose killing by security forces helped prompt the previous year's uprising. She was detained for three months, then released.[4] In 1990, she traveled to campaign on behalf of the National League for Democracy (NLD).[3]

In 1996, Mie Mie was studying at Dagon University in Yangon when she took part in a protest and was subsequently arrested.[4] She was then imprisoned for seven years in Tharyarwaddy Prison.[4]

Saffron Revolution and third arrest

Following her 2003 release, she became involved with the pro-democracy 88 Generation Students Group. When rising fuel and commodity prices led to widespread unrest in Yangon in August 2007, the 8888 Generation Students Group played a major role in organizing protests.[5] The largest of these rallies drew over one hundred thousand protesters, most notably a number of Buddhist monks, giving the uprising the popular nickname "The Saffron Revolution" for the color of their robes.[6] The New York Times described Mie Mie as "prominent in photographs and videos of the first small demonstrations", noting that she appeared in the shots "with her fist raised".[7]

Following a government crackdown on protestors, members of the 88 Generation Students Group were swiftly arrested.[5] On 22 August, the day after several 88 Generation leaders had been arrested, Mie Mie led a protest march and then went into hiding.[4] She was arrested herself on 13 October 2007 at a rubber plantation where she was hiding with fellow leaders Aung Thu, Htay Kywe, Zaw Htet Ko Ko and Hein Htet.[4]

Trial and imprisonment

Leading up to her trial, Mie Mie was detained with other activists at Insein Prison.[4] On 11 November 2008, she and other 88 Generation members were convicted of four counts of "illegally using electronic media" and one count of "forming an illegal organization", for a total sentence of 65 years in prison apiece.[8][9] Mie Mie reportedly shouted in response to the judge, "We will never be frightened!"[10]

Amnesty International named her a prisoner of conscience and called on multiple occasions for her release.[1][11] Human Rights Watch called for the 2007 protesters to be exonerated and freed,[12] as did Front Line.[13]

Mie Mie's health is said to be deteriorating as a result of her imprisonment.[11] In 2008, an NLD spokesperson alleged that prison authorities were refusing her proper treatment for her heart condition.[14] Her husband stated that she also suffers from spondylosis and arthritis.[15]

Family

Mie Mie married Hla Moe in 1990 and has three children with him.[15] Hla Moe works in a car repair shop and in 2009 told Irrawaddy magazine that he is allowed one twenty-minute prison visit with his wife per month.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Myanmar, Unlock the Prison Doors!". Amnesty International. http://www.amnestyusa.org/pdf/POC%20List.pdf. Retrieved 17 April 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "Burma's 1988 protests". BBC News. 25 September 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7012158.stm. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Burma Crackdown Goes on Amid Fears for Women in Custody". Radio Free Asia. 17 November 2008. http://www.rfa.org/english/burma/burma_women-20071017.html. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Mie Mie". Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. http://www.aappb.org/bio_pdf/Thin%20Thin%20Aye%20@%20Mie%20Mie.pdf. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "Key activists arrested in Burma". BBC News. 13 October 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7042885.stm. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
  6. ^ Jenny Booth and agencies (24 September 2007). "Military junta threatens monks in Burma". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2521951.ece. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
  7. ^ Seth Mydans (14 October 2007). "Myanmar Arrests 4 Top Dissidents, Human Rights Group Says". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/14/world/asia/14myanmar.html. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  8. ^ Jonathan Head (11 November 2008). "Harsh sentences for Burma rebels". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7721589.stm. Retrieved 17 April 2011. 
  9. ^ "Burma protesters each get 65 years". Hong Kong Standard. 12 November 2008. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=17&art_id=74234&sid=21418178&con_type=1. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  10. ^ "Burma's Forgotten Prisoners". Human Rights Watch. 19 September 2009. http://www.hrw.org/node/84740/section/7. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  11. ^ a b "Free The 88 Generation Students Group". Amnesty International. December 2009. http://www.amnesty.org.uk/actions_details.asp?ActionID=572#action. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  12. ^ "Burma: Free Activists Sentenced by Unfair Courts". Human Rights Watch. 11 November 2008. http://www.hrw.org/en/content/burma-free-activists-sentenced-unfair-courts. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
  13. ^ "Front Line condemns the harsh sentencing of ´88 Generation members and other human rights defenders". Human Rights Watch. 12 November 2008. http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1619. Retrieved 21 April 2011. 
  14. ^ Maung Dee (6 February 2008). "88 Student Leader Mie Mie's Health Deteriorates In Detention". Mizzima News. http://www.mizzima.com/component/content/article/4-inside-burma/94-88-student-leader-mie-mies-health-deteriorates-in-detention.html. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  15. ^ a b c Than Htike Oo (27 November 2009). "A Husband Whose Wife is a Political Prisoner". The Irrawaddy. http://www.irrawaddymedia.com/article.php?art_id=17304. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 

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