Ohn Than
Encyclopedia
Ohn Than is a Burmese democracy activist who has received international attention for his "stoic one-man protests". He has spent the majority of the last twenty years imprisoned, and Amnesty International
has named him a prisoner of conscience
.
from Rangoon University in 1971, and began working for the State Timber Corporation, where he served until his first arrest.
Ohn Than is a widower, and has one son and one daughter.
. In September 1987, Ne Win had voided most denominations of the kyat without warning, causing many people to lose their savings overnight. Students who saved money for tuition fees were particularly affected. The announcement led to riots at several universities. The situation was further exacerbated by the shooting of protesting student Phone Maw in a 12 March 1988 clash with police. The student-led protests continued to grow through August of that year, and on 8 August 1988 (8-8-88), a general strike began from which the 8888 Uprising
would later take its name.
Ohn Than became involved in the uprising at this time, leading protests in Shwegoo township in Kachin State
. He was arrested and sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment under the Emergency Provision Act, Section 5 (J). He passed one and a half years of this sentence at Bamaw prison and four and a half years at Mandalay prison before his 1995 release.
In 1996, he was rearrested for distributing a pamphlet titled "A Call for the Fight for Burma’s Human Rights". He was sentenced again under Emergency Provision Act, Section 5 (J) and imprisoned for seven more years, this time in Tharrawaddy prison. He was released in 2003.
office of the United Nations Development Program with a poster calling for free elections and a UN investigation of the "Depayin Massacre
". The protest was timed to match the first day of the current United Nations General Assembly
session. Three men appeared during his demonstration and led him away. Another man, Thet Wai, was arrested and charged with aiding him the following day.
Thet Wai and Ohn Than were subsequently sentenced to two years' imprisonment apiece under Burmese penal code article 505(b): "intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility".
—Ohn Than again appeared in international news by protesting alone outside of the National League for Democracy
headquarters in Yangon.
In August 2007, a new wave of protests hit Yangon following unrest over rising food and fuel prices. These protests would later become popularly known as the "Saffron Revolution" after the robe color of the many Buddhist monk
s who took a leadership role.
Ohn Than again helped lead the protests, staging another solo demonstration before the US Embassy in downtown Yangon on 23 August. He held up posters calling for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
to intervene to protect protesters from military reprisals, and for troops in the Tatmadaw (Burmese armed forces) to refuse the orders of their superiors. One sign read:
His protest ended when he was arrested by plainclothes security forces.
He was subsequently held in a military camp until January 2008, when he was taken to Yangon's Insein Prison
for trial on charges under article 124 (A) of the criminal code, “acts that destabilize the government". Amnesty International reports that he was not allowed legal representation. On 3 April 2008, he was given a life sentence and a fine of less than $1 USD. He was subsequently moved between three different prisons, ending at Khamti prison in Sagiang Division. In June 2008, he contracted cerebral malaria, but recovered.
Ohn Than's sentence was protested by Human Rights Watch
, which included him in its report Burma's Forgotten Prisoners. Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience
and also demanded his immediate release.
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
has named him a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
.
Personal life
Ohn Than was born in 1946 in Ngathinechaung Township, Irrawaddy Division. He received a B.Sc. in forestryForestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
from Rangoon University in 1971, and began working for the State Timber Corporation, where he served until his first arrest.
Ohn Than is a widower, and has one son and one daughter.
Role in 8888 Uprising
In 1988, a series of protests broke out opposing the military rule of Ne WinNe Win
Ne Win was Burmese a politician and military commander. He was Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974 and also head of state from 1962 to 1981...
. In September 1987, Ne Win had voided most denominations of the kyat without warning, causing many people to lose their savings overnight. Students who saved money for tuition fees were particularly affected. The announcement led to riots at several universities. The situation was further exacerbated by the shooting of protesting student Phone Maw in a 12 March 1988 clash with police. The student-led protests continued to grow through August of that year, and on 8 August 1988 (8-8-88), a general strike began from which the 8888 Uprising
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
would later take its name.
Ohn Than became involved in the uprising at this time, leading protests in Shwegoo township in Kachin State
Kachin State
Kachin State , is the northernmost state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east; Shan State to the south; and Sagaing Division and India to the west. It lies between north latitude 23° 27' and 28° 25' longitude 96° 0' and 98° 44'. The area of Kachin State is . The capital of the...
. He was arrested and sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment under the Emergency Provision Act, Section 5 (J). He passed one and a half years of this sentence at Bamaw prison and four and a half years at Mandalay prison before his 1995 release.
In 1996, he was rearrested for distributing a pamphlet titled "A Call for the Fight for Burma’s Human Rights". He was sentenced again under Emergency Provision Act, Section 5 (J) and imprisoned for seven more years, this time in Tharrawaddy prison. He was released in 2003.
2004 solo protest
On 21 September 2004, Ohn Than staged his first solo protest, standing alone before the YangonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
office of the United Nations Development Program with a poster calling for free elections and a UN investigation of the "Depayin Massacre
Depayin massacre
The Depayin Massacre occurred on 30 May 2003, when at least 70 people associated with the National League for Democracy were killed by government-sponsored mob in Burma.-Commission observations:...
". The protest was timed to match the first day of the current United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
session. Three men appeared during his demonstration and led him away. Another man, Thet Wai, was arrested and charged with aiding him the following day.
Thet Wai and Ohn Than were subsequently sentenced to two years' imprisonment apiece under Burmese penal code article 505(b): "intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility".
2007 solo protests and imprisonment
On 12 February 2007—Burma's Union DayPanglong Agreement
The Panglong Agreement was reached between the Burmese government under Aung San and the Shan, Kachin, and Chin peoples on 12 February 1947. The agreement accepted "Full autonomy in internal administration for the Frontier Areas" in principle and envisioned the creation of a Kachin State by the...
—Ohn Than again appeared in international news by protesting alone outside of the National League for Democracy
National League for Democracy
The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
headquarters in Yangon.
In August 2007, a new wave of protests hit Yangon following unrest over rising food and fuel prices. These protests would later become popularly known as the "Saffron Revolution" after the robe color of the many Buddhist monk
Bhikkhu
A Bhikkhu or Bhikṣu is an ordained male Buddhist monastic. A female monastic is called a Bhikkhuni Nepali: ). The life of Bhikkhus and Bhikkhunis is governed by a set of rules called the patimokkha within the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline...
s who took a leadership role.
Ohn Than again helped lead the protests, staging another solo demonstration before the US Embassy in downtown Yangon on 23 August. He held up posters calling for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
Ban Ki-moon
Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
to intervene to protect protesters from military reprisals, and for troops in the Tatmadaw (Burmese armed forces) to refuse the orders of their superiors. One sign read:
Form a Government that Represents the People / Listen and Act On What People Want / End Military Ruling, Now China and Russia's Vetoes—Go To Hell!
His protest ended when he was arrested by plainclothes security forces.
He was subsequently held in a military camp until January 2008, when he was taken to Yangon's Insein Prison
Insein Prison
Insein Prison is located in Yangon Division, near Yangon , the old capital of Myanmar. It is run by the military junta of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council, and used largely to repress political dissidents....
for trial on charges under article 124 (A) of the criminal code, “acts that destabilize the government". Amnesty International reports that he was not allowed legal representation. On 3 April 2008, he was given a life sentence and a fine of less than $1 USD. He was subsequently moved between three different prisons, ending at Khamti prison in Sagiang Division. In June 2008, he contracted cerebral malaria, but recovered.
Ohn Than's sentence was protested by Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, which included him in its report Burma's Forgotten Prisoners. Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
and also demanded his immediate release.