Interviews with Zin Mar Aung

The very first period of the prison life is the most terrible period for political prisoners because we weren’t allowed to meet our family, we didn’t get enough clothes, water and food. So this period is really terrible. But if we can overcome this period, we feel free – we feel stronger. Firstly, I was sent – three other political prisoners in the same cell. And they transferred me to the Mandalay prison; it is in the middle part of Burma. And they transferred me and they sent me to the small cells and almost one or two years of solitary confinement – very first of my prison life in Mandalay.

And later, they arrest more political prisoners and there’s no space in the prisons, and they put me, you know, in the small cell with some other cellmate. And later, they are gradually released, and the prison officer sent me to the solitary confinement in a small cell. About eight to nine years out of 11 years. So sometimes I like to live alone, but you know, I did not feel I’m lonely because I made up my mind and also I have enough time to reflect myself and also to do meditation. And so sometimes solitary confinement make me stronger enough.

After nine years, they did allow me to read books. So during these nine years, sometime I’m singing – so I like also music and songs and the poems and books. The thing is that if – they didn’t allow to read book as a – you know, the effective punishment for me because I really love reading books. So I try my options to overcome such kinds of long periods. So I’m trying to substitute my hobby with meditation and reciting the Buddhist discourse and trying to strengthen myself. Mindfulness – I tried to get mindfulness to overcome each day.

After six months they allowed my family to meet once a month because – actually, twice a month officially they allow, but they transfer me to very far away from my native town, Rangoon. And my family, you know, didn’t come regularly – twice a month. They visit me once a month. My family visit is not just only meeting in person, but also they bring some food and clothes and medicines. So what we need, they support me.

My family supported me. You know, the prison authority did not used to tell the prisoners when we were released or not. They just told me that you are now – you are released. And just pick up your stuff and go outside.

Zin Mar Aung is a Burmese civil society and political activist and a former prisoner of conscience. She was born in 1976 in Rangoon.

While a university student in the 1990s, Zin Mar Aung became active in the opposition to Burma’s military government. In 1998, she was arrested at a peaceful protest rally for reading a poem and statement calling on the military government to respect the results of elections. She was detained and convicted before a military tribunal, which did not permit her to be represented by an attorney. Zin Mar Aung was sentenced to 28 years in prison. She spent 11 years as a political prisoner, nearly nine years of which was in solitary confinement. In 2009, she was suddenly released from captivity and she resumed her civil society activities.

Zin Mar Aung has founded a number of civil society groups dealing with democratic development, women’s empowerment, ethnic tolerance, and providing assistance to former prisoners of conscience. The Rainfall group encourages greater women’s participation in public life and the Yangon School of Political Science educates young Burmese about politics and democracy.

In 2012, she was recognized by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as a recipient of the annual “International Women of Courage” award.