Su Su Nway
Su Su Nway စုစုနွေး | |
|---|---|
 Su Su Nway in 2011 | |
| Member of thePeople’s Party | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1971(age53) |
| Residence(s) | Htan Manaing village,Kawhmu Township,Yangon Region,Myanmar |
| Occupation | politician,activist |
| Awards | Homo Homini Award(2007) |
| Awards | human rights award fromNational League for Democracy John Humphrey Freedom Award Homo Homini Award |
Su Su Nway(Burmese:စုစုနွေး;MLCTS:cu. cu. nwe:,IPA:[sṵsṵnwé];born 1971; also known asSu Su Nwe) is a Burmese democracy activist andpolitical prisoner.In 2005, she became the first Burmese national to successfully sue local government officials under a 1999 law onforced labour.[1]
Forced labor case and subsequent imprisonment
[edit]Su Su Nway is from Htan Manaing village,Kawhmu Township(located 50 mi fromYangon), inYangon region.[2]She filed a complaint after she, along with other villagers, were forced into working on a road construction project by the local Village Tract Peace and Development Council.[2]The case was then pursued by NLD lawyers. As a result of the case, on 3 September 2004, Sein Paw, Chairman of the Htanmanaing Village Tract Peace and Development Council, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, while Council members Kyaw Thin, Myint Thein, and Aung Khin were sentenced to eight months each. Following the court case, Su Su Nway stated that Sein Paw passed her on the road with a companion and told her she should be "beaten to death".[2]
In 2005, the new town chairman charged her with harassment and defamation, a tactic that theAsian Human Rights Commissionnoted to be a common reprisal against Burmese activists.[2]Su Su Nway was then sentenced to an 18-month term inInsein Prison.[3]Before her sentencing, she told reporters, "I have no responsibility, no power and no position. They plot against a common girl, a disease sufferer, and sue her because they are afraid. If they are afraid like that, our side is winning."[4]
In February 2006, Nway attempted to appeal to theSupreme Court,but her case was rejected, after having appealed to district courts that rejected her cases.[5]She was released on 6 June 2006, as a result of international pressure from theUnited States government,theInternational Labour Organization(ILO), theUnited Nations(UN), andNGOs.[6]
Now (2018) Su Su Nway established the Myanmar Farmer Union in 2012 and she became the Chairperson. Su Su Nway teach her members of Myanmar Farmer Union Land Law.
Second imprisonment
[edit]Su Su Nway was in hiding for much of 2007, but took part in theAugust protestsagainst high fuel prices, narrowly escaping a second arrest.[7]On 13 November 2007, she was arrested for hanging a banner near the hotel where UN Human Rights EnvoyPaulo Pinheirowas staying while visiting the country.[8]
On 11 November 2008, Su Su Nway was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison.[9]This was reduced by four years in February 2009. Su Su Nway is currently inHkamtiPrison inSagaing Region.[8]She suffers from a congenital heart condition andhigh blood pressure,and was initially denied her heart medication by prison officials.[4]She was hospitalized on 20 May 2009, and though she recovered, Amnesty International reports that prison officials have continued to deny her family visits, sufficient food, clean clothes, and adequate medical care.[7]
Release
[edit]On 10 October 2011, she was released along with comedianZarganarand88 Generation Student GroupactivistZaw Htet Ko Koas part of aseries of amnesties for political prisoners.[10]
Recognition
[edit]
In 2005, Su Su Nway received a human rights award from the NLD.[8]The following year, she was awarded theJohn Humphrey Freedom Awardby the Canadian human rights groupRights & Democracy.[11]In 2007,People in Needawarded Su Su Nway,Phyu Phyu Thin,andNilar TheintheirHomo Homini Award.[12]Amnesty International considers her aprisoner of conscienceand a "priority case".[7]UNISON,the UK's second-largest trade union, issued a statement on her behalf on 23 September 2010, and general secretaryDave Prentiswas photographed with her name on his hand for an Amnesty International campaign.[13]LiverpoolMPLuciana Bergerwas also photographed for the campaign.[14]
References
[edit]- Paddock, Richard C. (21 June 2006). "In Myanmar, a New Voice for Human Rights".Los Angeles Times.
Notes
[edit]- ^"BURMA: Complaints against forced labour blocked and victims punished".Asian Human Rights Commission.3 September 2004.Retrieved7 June2006.
- ^abcd"UPDATE (Burma): Local officials seek revenge against villager who obtained first successful forced labour prosecution".Asian Human Rights Commission.24 May 2005.Retrieved17 April2011.
- ^"UN urges Burma to free activists".BBC News.6 August 2006.Retrieved16 April2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^abRichard C. Paddock (21 May 2006)."In Myanmar, a New Voice for Human Rights".Los Angeles Times.Archived fromthe originalon 27 January 2013.Retrieved17 April2011.
- ^"Burmese junta rejects human rights defender case".BBC News.2 February 2006.Retrieved7 June2006.
- ^Aung Lwin Oo (6 June 2006)."Burmese human rights defender released".The Irrawaddy.Retrieved7 June2006.
- ^abc"SU SU NWAY: LABOR ACTIVIST".Amnesty International.Retrieved17 April2011.
- ^abc"Su Su Nway Prisoner Profile"(PDF).Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).Retrieved5 November2010.
- ^"40 Burmese Dissidents Given Prison Terms of up to 65 Years".Archived fromthe originalon 1 May 2011.Retrieved8 May2011.
- ^"Political prisoner release should prompt continued pressure on Myanmar".Amnesty International.14 October 2011.Retrieved13 January2012.
- ^Aung Lwin Oo (1 September 2006)."Labor Activist Awarded Freedom Prize".The Irrawaddy.Retrieved2 September2006.
- ^"People in Need".Archived fromthe originalon 1 May 2011.Retrieved17 April2011.
- ^"Raise your hand for Burma's Su Su Nway".Unison National.UNISON. 23 September 2010.Retrieved17 April2011.
- ^"Showing solidarity for Burmese Political Prisoners".LucianaBerger.com. 6 November 2010.Retrieved17 April2011.