Tin Thit

Tin Thit, also known as Maung Tin Thit or Yi Mon or Ye Mon, is a Burmese poet, former political prisoner, and politician.[1][2]

Tin Thit was in medical school during the pro-democracy uprising of 1988 against the military junta that ruled Burma.[1] Tin Thit participated in the protests, and was imprisoned by the regime for seven years. Tin Thit later worked as an environmental activist.[1]

In the 2015 general election, Tin Thit successfully ran as a candidate for Parliament with the National League for Democracy in a district in the national capital of Naypyidaw.[1] Tin Thit received 27,321 votes, narrowly defeating U Wai Lwin, a powerful former military general who had been defense minister until a few months before the elections.[1] Tin Thit's victory was viewed as a surprise because the district has more than 7,000 soldiers and 2,000 police officers, who were seen as likely to favor an ex-general.[1]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thomas Fuller, A Poet's Election Victory Over a Former General Speaks of a New Myanmar, New York Times (November 14, 2015).
  2. ↑ Ei Ei Toe Lwin & Pyae Thet Phyom, Drama in NPT as commission rejects ex-minister's petition for vote recount, Myanmar Times (November 11, 2015).
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