Win Tin

Who was Win Tin?

Win Tin is a politician and former political prisoner in Burma. He attended Myoma High School in Yangon. Arrested in July 1989 because of his senior position in the National League for Democracy and for his writings, he spent 19 years in prison. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature, modern history and political science at the Rangoon University in 1953.

Win Tin was serving a 20 year sentence on charges including "anti-government propaganda." One of the reasons for his detention is his attempt to inform the United Nations of ongoing human rights violations in Burmese prisons. At 81 years of age, he is in a poor state of health, exacerbated by his treatment in prison, which has included torture, inadequate access to medical treatment, being held in a cell designed for military dogs, without bedding, and being deprived of food and water for long periods of time.

Since the start of 2006 he had not been able to receive visits from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In 2001, Win Tin was awarded the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize for his efforts to defend and promote and right to freedom of expression. That year, he was also awarded the World Association of Newspapers' Golden Pen of Freedom Award.