Burma’s most prominent student leader has been harassed by authorities since his release last November from a 16-year-long imprisonment, according to relatives in Rangoon.

Whenever Min Ko Naing leaves the house, authorities follow him, and when he stays at home, they watch the building, one of his relatives said by phone from Rangoon.

“From dawn to night, the authorities have watched Min Ko Naing’s house,” said the relative, who requested anonymity for his and Min Ko Naing’s safety. “When he walks out of the house at 5:00 a.m. to exercise, they are behind him.”  

The charismatic student leader was arrested by military intelligence in March 1989 for his leading role in the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. Min Ko Naing also served as chairman of the banned All Burma Federation of Students’ Unions.

At the end of December, when Min Ko Naing visited relatives in Mudon, southern Mon State, about 100 miles from Rangoon, local authorities kept a close eye on him and the relatives’ house where he stayed, reportedly even trespassing upon their property.

“Local authorities still forced their way into his uncle’s home at midnight two times,” read a statement recently released by the US Campaign for Burma. The statement also divulged that, due to the relentless harassment, Min Ko Naing chose to return to his parents’ home in South Okkalapa township, Rangoon, on January 14.

Min Ko Naing faced close scrutiny from the government even earlier. During the first week of December, the government made several Burmese-language publications run stories detailing Min Ko Naing’s activities, highlighting connections with diplomats. The reports even included their private conversations.

"If Burma's regime is serious about change, they must end this intimidation," said Aung Din, policy director of the US Campaign for Burma.