Phyu Phyu Thin

Phyu Phyu Thin (Burmese: ဖြူဖြူသင်း, IPA: [pʰjù pʰjù θɪ́ɰ̃]; born 23 December 1971) is a Burmese politician and HIV/AIDS activist who currently serves as a House of Representatives MP for Mingala Taungnyunt Township.

Phyu Phyu Thin
ဖြူဖြူသင်း
Phyu Phyu Thin makes a campaign speech in Yangon's Mingala Taungnyunt Township
Member of the Pyithu Hluttaw
from Mingalataungnyunt Township
Assumed office
2 May 2012
Preceded byAung Kyi
Personal details
Born (1972-12-23) 23 December 1972
NationalityBurmese
Political partyNational League for Democracy
AwardsHomo Homini Award (2007)

Political imprisonment
In December 2011, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Phyu Phyu Thin, along with other civil society representatives. (Clicking on a person's face will take you to an article about the person.)

On May 21, 2007, Phyu Phyu Thin was arrested by police in Yangon for organizing a prayer rally to call for the release of detained National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Never told what crime she had committed, she was held for more than a month, and was released on July 2, 2007.[1]

As an activist, Phyu Phyu Thin has been an outspoken critic of the State Peace and Development Council, which she says is understating the number of HIV and AIDS cases in Myanmar. She operates a clinic in Yangon that provides treatment, medicine and counseling to HIV and AIDS patients.[2][3][4] The United States Department of State also called for Phyu Phyu Thin's release.[1]

While in detention, Phyu Phyu Thin staged a hunger strike, taking only liquids for about one week.[1] Her family, which had not been told where she was being held, said it would file a missing person's case with police.[5][6]

Phyu Phyu Thin visiting an HIV hospice.

Phyu Phyu Thin has previously been detained in 2000, after she and other Suu Kyi supporters were bundled away by police from a rally for Suu Kyi. She was held for a time in Insein prison.[3]

International recognition

In 2007, People in Need awarded Phyu Phyu Thin, along with fellow prisoners Su Su Nway and Nilar Thein, their Homo Homini Award.[7]

Political career

Phyu Phyu Thin was elected for a parliamentary seat in the lower house (Pyithu Hluttaw)'s Mingala Taungnyunt constituency, in 2012 by-elections.[8] In the 2015 Myanmar general election, re-elect Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Mingala Taungnyunt Township.

References
  1. Associated Press (2009-07-03). "Prominent Myanmar AIDS activist freed from detention". The Star (Malaysia). Archived from the original on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  2. "Burma Released HIV-Positive Activists From Hospital Confinement". Voice of America. 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
  3. Mann, Naomi (2009-07-03). "A Brave, Caring Woman Now Also Needs Help". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  4. Lae, Aye (2009-06-07). "HIV/AIDS Patients Detained in Rangoon". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
  5. Aung, Htet (2009-06-28). ""Free Suu Kyi" Campaigners Released". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
  6. Paung, Shah (2009-06-21). "Relatives of Missing HIV Activist Threaten to Sue Authorities". The Irrawaddy. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-29.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-01. Retrieved 2011-05-01.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "NLD AIDS activist to run for Parliament". Mizzima. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.


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