Kyaw San, 79, was a political prisoner for more than 15 of the 21 years that Than Shwe's military regime held power. Conscripted into the army in 1949, he attended the Defense Service Academy No 18 and later was promoted to colonel. After serving over 36 years in the army, he retired in 1986 and went on to participate in the 1988 uprising with Tin Oo, who is the current vice-president of the National League for Democracy (NLD). In 1990, Kyaw San was elected to be an MP in Parliament, but the election was not honored by the regime and in 1992 he was sentenced to a seven-year, seven-month prison term for praising Aung San Suu Kyi for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He was released after serving three years, but rearrested for misbehavior and forced to complete his original sentence plus two additional years. In 2005, he was once again sentenced to seven years, this time for assisting in the transportation of illegal goods. On Tuesday, Kyaw San was released from prison after serving 6-years and 2 months of his seven-year prison term.

Kyaw San is currently a member of the NLD's central executive committee and the chairman of the Sagaing Division. The Irrawaddy reporter Ko Htwe spoke with him about the amnesty program that allowed him to be released, his life in prison and his future political intentions. 

Kyaw San

Answer: I don't want to argue that I was released one year early because of the great mercy of the president. The political prisoners who were released because of the amnesty were going to be free anyways within a few months. The families of the rest of the political prisoners waiting in front of the prison are continually in tears. How can I say that I'm happy?

Some are happy when they are free from prison and leave the life of a novice, but I cannot be happy when I am free from prison. My comrades are still serving 65-year sentences, so I'm not delighted even though I'm free. But I was delighted when I met with my family and 6-year old grand daughter, who was born when I was in prison. I have to keep in touch with my leaders and wish to proceed with my political work. For all of my comrades in prison who got 1-year sentence reductions, it is like throwing sesame into the mouth of an elephant. It is political nonsense. In the past, the Home Affairs minister also freed prisoners who were serving 20 and 30-year prison terms after 3-years imprisonment. One year amnesty from the president is a joke for the international community. It is undignified and has no political benefit.

The new government is not concerned with national reconciliation. If they want to have national reconciliation and establish a clean government, they need to free all political prisoners. The new government at first signaled that there will be discussions with all ethnic minority, opposition and underground groups, including exiled groups. But this first action on amnesty makes their dignity so small.

Q: Will you proceed with your political career?
 
A: I spoke with our leaders on the telephone. Our leader Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of General Aung San, who was the leader of our nation and the father of the army. So I believe I'll never be a person who abandons leaders and comrades in this tight corner. So I'll be with them while I'm healthy. I will never ignore the affairs of democracy. I have a duty to put the sovereignty in the hands of the real public. I cannot do it alone. Unity can bring success, so I have to discuss and negotiate with the leader and my comrades.  To sum up, I decided not to split with my comrades and will cooperate with them.

Q: What is your opinion of Aung San Suu Kyi?

A: She is like my sister. We have the same essential political view. Our hearts are connected. As a citizen of Burma, I also have the duty to protect and surround her because she is the daughter of our national leader Aung San. I have a commitment to join hands with her, whatever I have to face.

Q: How do you view the opposition movement? Have they become stronger or weaker?

A: I don't know exactly what they are doing outside. They are doing the best they can. Exiles are also effective in some ways, but inside we have to capitalize on our life. There is much evidence that many political prisoners ruin their life, divorce and leave their infants. I think we need to try to live in accordance with love and wisdom. If we act with anger we will blunder. We need to hold the democratic principles. We must have unity, avoid terrorism and respect discipline. We need to organize the public forces. The other side is not the enemy because we are of the same nationality. Whatever they say, we need to try to act with love.

Q: What is your expectation for change?

A: The words of the president were delightful. But although the speech is professional, the actions are still at the primary level. The words are marvelous, but now the actions speak louder than the words. We need to wait and see. After a half-year their graph will take shape. But we don't need to wait  just for chance or circumstances, we have to do what we must. If the public and political parties are united and our actions are not selfish and are based on good strategy, we will achieve our goal.

Q: What is your opinion of the new government?

A: The speech of the president is respectful and welcomed. He ideologically said the right thing but needs time for him to shape the outcome. It is very early to say. But the situation is not so good at the starting point.

Q: How was your experience in jail?
 
A: The authorities violated the law of human rights and need to repair a lot. On the facade, they pretended to repair the damage, but it was very ugly inside. Authorities from the prison neglected living standards, communication and health care by transferring duties to deputy jailers who could do whatever they wished. There are many weaknesses in the administration and health care system. I never ate food from the jail the entire 6-years. Human rights violation are still ongoing. Although I'm retired from the army and older than the jailer, he threatened us by saying: “If you don't obey, my hand will speak.”