Min Ko Naing

Min Ko Naing, born in Yangon, is one of the most influential political activists in the recent history of Myanmar. Min Ko Naing, meaning “Conqueror of Kings”, is his popular alias that stands in place of his real name, Paw Oo Tun. Naing, who majored in Zoology at the Rangoon Institute of Technology during the 1980s, was first exposed to activism during his time at the university. He recounts that in the middle of his college’s campus, there was a telephone booth that represented the only location where freedom of speech could exist. On this booth, students would frequently post cartoons airing their grievances against the university, the government, or other institutions that they couldn’t traditionally criticize.

Inspired by his peers' cartoons, Naing decided to try his hand at creating similar drawings that he could post on the booth. His drawings, as he recounts, weren’t quite as popular as other students’. Nevertheless, this taste of freedom had drawn Naing to express his political discontent elsewhere, and more publicly: he became a member of a performance troupe that frequently ridiculed the Myanmar government for its policies and system of rule. His political expression didn’t last long, however, as the Burmese Military Intelligence agents quickly tracked him down and stifled his opposition. Still, despite his encounters with the Burmese military, he continued to meet with other students in secret to discuss the political state of his country and what could be done to improve it.

These student organizations would prove to be vital in future protests. In 1987, the Myanmar government removed many denominations of their currencies, creating much discontent and financial distress. The impact was largely felt by students saving to pay their college tuition. Taking advantage of this discontent, Naing helped organize a protest consisting of 3,000 students on a college campus. It was quickly met with police force, leading to many deaths. Naing continued to organize various protests in this movement that would come to be known as the “8888” movement. This led to him helping Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of Aung Sang (an influential and famous figure who helped Myanmar gain independence from the British) gain an audience to speak to crowds of protestors. Today, Aung San Suu Kyi remains a key political figure in the fight for democracy in Myanmar.

For his work, Naing was punished severely by the government. He was sent to prison until 2004, allegedly enduring intense torture and mistreatment. Naing was arrested again in 2007 for his pro-democracy work and sentenced to 65 years in prison, but was ultimately released in 2012. After spending nearly two decades in prison, Naing continues to advocate for democracy in Myanmar and now is on the run from the Myanmar government following a violent military coup that took place in 2021.