Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, 73: Irreplaceable Losses for the People of Myanmar

Myanmar Spring Chronicle – October 6

(MoeMaKa) October 7, 2024

Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, 73: Irreplaceable Losses for the People of Myanmar

Following the February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, many of the leaders and members of the NLD party, which had won the 2020 general elections, were arrested and imprisoned. Several of these individuals died in military custody or detention centers, subjected to extreme abuse by the regime. Among those leaders, prominent figures like lawyer U Nyan Win and writer Mon Ywa Aung Shin lost their lives. Today, we report the death of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Deputy Chair of the NLD and Chief Minister of Mandalay Region, who passed away after suffering severe illness in prison without adequate medical treatment.

According to reports, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, who had been sentenced to prison by the military regime, passed away at 3 a.m. on October 7, 2024. He had been diagnosed with blood cancer and was 73 years old at the time of his death. His health worsened on October 5, leading to his transfer from Obo Prison to a hospital ICU. On October 6, it was reported that the military regime had issued a release letter due to his declining health, but he passed away in the early hours of October 7 in Mandalay General Hospital’s ICU.

Dr. Zaw Myint Maung had been arrested since the morning of February 1, 2021, following the military coup. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison on charges including corruption, public endangerment, and election fraud—charges widely regarded as politically motivated by the military regime.

A brief recount of his life includes his election as an NLD representative for Amarapura Township in the 1990 general elections. He was subsequently arrested by the military and imprisoned for 19 years, only being released in February 2009. In the 2012 by-elections, he was elected as a representative for Kyaukpadaung Township, and in the 2015 and 2020 general elections, he was re-elected for Amarapura Township and served as Chief Minister of Mandalay Region. He was arrested again with his family on the day of the coup in 2021 and sentenced to 29 years in prison.

Although the military reportedly issued a release shortly before his death, it is undeniable that he succumbed to the torture and unlawful detention imposed by the regime, which now becomes a tragic historical record.

Dr. Zaw Myint Maung’s political career spans from the founding of the NLD following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, through his leadership in the party alongside prominent figures like U Win Tin and U Nyan Win. In the 2010 general elections, he, alongside other NLD leaders, firmly boycotted the election in solidarity with the party’s stance. However, after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s release, he competed in the 2012 by-elections and was elected as a representative once more.

Within the NLD’s hierarchy, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung was considered the third-most influential figure, following Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and U Win Myint, with U Nyan Win having been the fourth before his passing. Currently, top-ranking NLD members such as U Win Htein remain imprisoned by the military regime.

As of the military coup in 2021, the NLD Central Executive Committee (CEC) included figures like U Hanta Myint, U Tun Tun Hein, Dr. May Win Myint, Nan Khin Htwe Myint, Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, Daw Khin Thay Kywe, Dr. Myo Aung, U Nyi Pu, U Aung Kyi Nyunt, U Thein Oo, and U Phyo Min Thein, among others. Many of them are either imprisoned, in exile, or in hiding following the coup.

Despite the severe repression within Myanmar, NLD leaders continue to organize and resist from exile. CEC members like Dr. May Win Myint, U Tin Htut Oo, and U Aung Kyi Nyunt are still actively involved in resistance efforts from abroad.

The passing of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung has elicited a wave of grief and tribute from NLD members and supporters. Among these tributes are statements from prominent figures of the Spring Revolution.

Dr. Teza San wrote, “I always remember the part about Dr. Zaw in U Win Tin’s memoir ‘What’s This, Hell on Earth?’ where he recounts Dr. Zaw meeting his daughter during prison visits, as she didn’t even remember her father due to the long separation. I was moved to tears reading that. In fact, his daughter and I later attended the same class in medical school.”

Daw Zin Mar Aung, who is currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the National Unity Government (NUG), expressed her sorrow, stating, “We still haven’t fulfilled our duties, Teacher. We are sorry. You stood tall and firm in your beliefs until the end, and we will never forget the shining legacy of Mandalay during your time. Your unwavering fight against injustice will be remembered.”

Daw Phyu Phyu Thin, a member of the CRPH, wrote, “This is a time filled with so much grief, and our hearts are heavy. Teacher and U Win Tin fought to the end without lowering their flags in this ill-fated country, and we deeply admire and respect them. We must continue the fight for the democracy that Teacher Zaw and others envisioned.”

In Myanmar’s political history, after political parties were established with the military’s permission and participated in elections organized by the military, many opposition leaders who gained overwhelming support from the people and won elections faced severe consequences. These leaders, using political methods, non-violent means, and paths of civil resistance, have been fighting against the military and dictatorship for years. They have endured long prison sentences, torture, executions, and numerous unjust repressions and restrictions.

Recently, the people of Myanmar have lost a figure known as “Teacher Zaw,” Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, in this political cycle. We call on the people of Myanmar to maintain their strong and unwavering resolve to break free from and dismantle the vicious cycle of military dictatorship.