BANGKOK—Kyaw Zaw Lwin, a Burmese-born U.S.citizen and pro-democracy activist, has returned to the United States after six months in detention in Burma.
Kyaw Zaw Lwin, also known as Nyi Nyi Aung, arrived accompanied by a U.S. State Department escort and was greeted Friday by his fiancee and members of the Burmese community in Washington.
Kyaw Zaw Lwin said that he had suffered pains in his leg while in prison but that he would be continuing his activism.
“On future plans, I have to take immediate treatment so I can walk normally ... and at the same time, I’ll meet with various groups working for Burma’s democracy here and overseas and discuss what steps we should take,” he said in an interview.
In September, Kyaw Zaw Lwin was detained upon arrival in Rangoon for allegedly plotting to incite unrest.
In February, a Burmese court sentenced him to three years in prison for forging a national identity card, possessing undeclared currency, and violating immigration law. He was released from Insein prison on Thursday.
“There is a total lack of justice in the country. My release shows how much influence the administrative sector has over the judiciary,” he said.
Hunger strike
Kyaw Zaw Lwin said he had gone to Burma to visit his mother, who is suffering from cancer while serving a five-year prison term for political activities.
His sister and cousin are also serving jail terms for their work to promote democracy in Burma.
Kyaw Zaw Lwin said that he had gone on a hunger strike while imprisoned.
“I went into hunger strike in Insein Prison because I wanted to catch the attention of the junta leaders, let them know how much people are hungry for justice, freedom,” he said.
Burma’s official newspaper, New Light of Myanmar, reported that Kyaw Zaw Lwin had been pardoned and deported out of “special consideration for the bilateral relationship” with the United States.
Original reporting by Tin Aung Khine for RFA’s Burmese service. Burmese service director: Nancy Shwe. Executive producer: Susan Lavery. Written for the Web in English by Rachel Vandenbrink.