Su Su Nway

Su Su Nway (Burmese: စုစုနွေး; MLCTS: cu. cu. nwe:, IPA: [sṵ sṵ nwé]; born 1971; also known as Su Su Nwe) is a Burmese democracy activist and political prisoner. In 2005, she became the first Burmese national to successfully sue local government officials under a 1999 law on forced labour.[1]

In this Burmese name, the given name is Su Su Nway. There is no family name.
Su Su Nway
စုစုနွေး
Su Su Nway in 2011
Member of the People’s Party
Personal details
Born1971 (1971) (age 52)
Residence(s)Htan Manaing village, Kawhmu Township, Yangon Region, Myanmar
Occupationpolitician, activist
AwardsHomo Homini Award (2007)
Awardshuman rights award from National League for Democracy
John Humphrey Freedom Award
Homo Homini Award

Forced labor case and subsequent imprisonment

Su Su Nway is from Htan Manaing village, Kawhmu Township (located 50 mi from Yangon), in Yangon 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 the Asian Human Rights Commission noted to be a common reprisal against Burmese activists.[2] Su Su Nway was then sentenced to an 18-month term in Insein 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 the Supreme 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 the United States government, the International Labour Organization (ILO), the United Nations (UN), and NGOs.[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

Su Su Nway was in hiding for much of 2007, but took part in the August protests against 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 Envoy Paulo Pinheiro was 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 in Hkamti Prison in Sagaing Region.[8] She suffers from a congenital heart condition and high 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

On 10 October 2011, she was released along with comedian Zarganar and 88 Generation Student Group activist Zaw Htet Ko Ko as part of a series of amnesties for political prisoners.[10]

Recognition
Su Su Nway in her apartment in Yangon, Myanmar on 26 January 2013

In 2005, Su Su Nway received a human rights award from the NLD.[8] The following year, she was awarded the John Humphrey Freedom Award by the Canadian human rights group Rights & Democracy.[11] In 2007, People in Need awarded Su Su Nway, Phyu Phyu Thin, and Nilar Thein their Homo Homini Award.[12] Amnesty International considers her a prisoner of conscience and a "priority case".[7] UNISON, the UK's second-largest trade union, issued a statement on her behalf on 23 September 2010, and general secretary Dave Prentis was photographed with her name on his hand for an Amnesty International campaign.[13] Liverpool MP Luciana Berger was also photographed for the campaign.[14]

References
  • Paddock, Richard C. (21 June 2006). "In Myanmar, a New Voice for Human Rights". Los Angeles Times.

Notes
  1. "BURMA: Complaints against forced labour blocked and victims punished". Asian Human Rights Commission. 3 September 2004. Retrieved 7 June 2006.
  2. "UPDATE (Burma): Local officials seek revenge against villager who obtained first successful forced labour prosecution". Asian Human Rights Commission. 24 May 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  3. "UN urges Burma to free activists". BBC News. 6 August 2006. Retrieved 16 April 2011.
  4. Richard C. Paddock (21 May 2006). "In Myanmar, a New Voice for Human Rights". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  5. "Burmese junta rejects human rights defender case". BBC News. 2 February 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2006.
  6. Aung Lwin Oo (6 June 2006). "Burmese human rights defender released". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 7 June 2006.
  7. "SU SU NWAY: LABOR ACTIVIST". Amnesty International. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  8. "Su Su Nway Prisoner Profile" (PDF). Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma). Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  9. "40 Burmese Dissidents Given Prison Terms of up to 65 Years". Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  10. "Political prisoner release should prompt continued pressure on Myanmar". Amnesty International. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  11. Aung Lwin Oo (1 September 2006). "Labor Activist Awarded Freedom Prize". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2 September 2006.
  12. "People in Need". Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  13. "Raise your hand for Burma's Su Su Nway". Unison National. UNISON. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  14. "Showing solidarity for Burmese Political Prisoners". LucianaBerger.com. 6 November 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
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