Burma's political prisoners – gallery

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel peace prizewinner, leader of the opposition NLD party and Burma's democracy icon, has spent more than 15 years detained under house arrest in her lakeside home and in the Insein prison. First detained in July 1989, she continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma despite threats and oppression from the authorities. Soe Min Min, a member of the NLD, was arrested in 2008 for praying for her release and is serving an eight-year sentence at Insein
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Dr Daw May Win Myint, an elected member of parliament for the NLD in the 1990 general election, was arrested in 1997 for attempting to arrange a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD youth members. She was sentenced to seven years in prison, but her sentence was extended each year until her eventual release in 2008. She is currently Secretary of the NLD Mayangone township and the leader of the NLD women's group. Than Than Htay, a student activist and member of the NLD, was arrested in 1991 and sentenced to six years. She was released under a general amnesty in 1992 but was arrested again in 2000 and sentenced to 17 years for supporting political prisoners and unlawful association with exiled organisations. She is currently detained at Insein
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Ei Shwe Sin Nyunt was arrested in December 1996 for her role in student demonstrations. She spent almost six years in Insein and Tharawaddy. She fled Burma with her husband Yin Htway (also a former political prisoner of more than 10 years), and now lives in exile on the Thai-Burma border. Lay Lay Mon, a journalist and member of the 88 Generation Students, was first arrested and imprisoned in 1996 for her involvement in student protests. She joined monk-led protests in Rangoon in September 2007 before being arrested again, and is serving an 11-year sentence
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Kaythi Aye was arrested in December 1991 for participating in student-led demonstrations, known as the 10D movement, in celebration of Aung San Suu Kyi winning the Nobel peace prize. She was sentenced to 12 years in prison, but was released six months later under a general amnesty. She later fled to the Thai-Burma border before resettling in Norway. Myo Min Zaw was arrested for leading student demonstrations in 1998. He was sentenced to 52 years
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Khin Cho Myint was involved in the democracy uprisings of 1988 as a first year student and participated in the 1991 10D movement, but went into hiding to avoid arrest. She was arrested in September 1998 for her role in the student demonstrations, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, serving six in Insein and Moulmein prisons before being released in 2004. She is currently living in the Nupo refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border, awaiting resettlement. Myo Min Htike, a student leader, was sentenced to 52 years in prison for distributing leaflets and organising demonstrations during the student uprising of 1998
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Khun Myint Tun, a National League for Democracy (NLD) member of parliament, was arrested in May 1996. He was charged with disturbing the state peace and stability and sentenced to seven years. Along with fellow MP Kyaw Khin, he was later sentenced to a further three years for giving videotapes of Aung San Suu Kyi's speeches to an Australian journalist. He was released in 2003 and fled Burma in 2007, continuing his political work in exile
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Ludu U Sein Win, one of Burma's most respected journalists and an outspoken critic of the regime, was arrested in 1967 and sentenced, without trial, to 13 years in prison for his political writings. He was jailed in Insein and Coco Island. He was released in 1976, but re-arrested almost immediately and jailed for a further four years. He suffered a stroke in prison and despite being paralysed in his right side, he continues to defy the regime, writing two articles a day under different pseudonyms. Zar Gana is Burma's most famous comedian, actor and film director. Previously imprisoned several times for his political activities, he was arrested in June 2008 for delivering aid to survivors of Cyclone Nargis and talking to foreign journalists about the government's lack of action, and is serving a 35-year sentence in Myitkyina
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Myo Myint, a former engineer in the Burmese army and a member of the NLD, was arrested in 1989 and sentenced to 15 years for his involvement in the mass uprising of 1988. He spent time in the Insein, Tharawaddy and Taungoo prisons before his release in 2004. He fled to the Thai-Burma border before resettling in the US, and his life story has been portrayed in the documentary film, Burma Soldier. Nay Min, a reporter and colleague of Myo Myint who was first jailed in 1989, was arrested again in 2004 and is currently serving a 15-year sentence in Tharawaddy
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Naing Linn was arrested in March 2003 for performing a solo protest in front of the British embassy in Rangoon and was jailed for two years. He was forced to flee Burma and currently lives in the Nupo refugee camp, on the Thai-Burma border, where he is awaiting resettlement. U Nyi Pu, an elected member of parliament for the NLD, was arrested, along with four other NLD MPs, in August 2008 for writing a letter to the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon expressing concern about the National Convention's drafting of the constitution. He was sentenced to 15 years
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Phyu Phyu Thin, a member of the NLD and leading human rights activist, was arrested in 1999 for her role in organising Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to Mandalay. She was detained in Insein for four months. In 2007, she was arrested again for organising a prayer vigil at Shwedagon Pagoda. In August 2007, she joined peaceful protests led by the 88 Generation Students, but was forced into hiding when her colleagues were arrested. She now runs a centre providing medicine and counselling for HIV patients. Han Ni Oo, a final year law student, was arrested in October 2007 for her involvement in the Saffron Revolution. She was sentenced to nine years, and is currently in Lashio prison
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Thet Hmu, a former member of the student organisation Ba Ka Tha, was arrested in 1990 and sentenced to seven years in prison for both his role in student demonstrations during the mass uprising in 1988 and his association with illegal organisations. He spent more than five years in Insein and Tharawaddybefore being released in 1996. He now lives in New York. Yan Naing was arrested in 2004 and sentenced to 22 years for issuing a statement demanding political dialogue and the release of all political prisoners
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Tun Lin Kyaw, a former member of NLD youth and tri-colour student group, lived with Aung San Suu Kyi from an early age after his parents died. In 2004, he carried out a solo protest outside City Hall in Rangoon, demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners. He was arrested and spent three years in Insein. During interrogation, he was tortured and had to have half a lung removed. He was released from prison to receive emergency medical care, but was re-arrested to serve the rest of his sentence. He fled Burma and is now a refugee in the Umpiem Mai camp on the Thai-Burma border. Aung Aung Oo, a student, was arrested in March 2006 and is serving a 14-year sentence at Insein
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

U Tin Oo, the vice-chairman of the NLD and a former general and commander in chief of the armed forces, has spent more than 17 years in prison and under house arrest due to his political activities. He was first arrested in 1976, and charged with high treason. He has been arrested three times, and was released from his latest sentence in February 2010. He continues working for the NLD. Aung Zaw Oo, a human rights and labour activist, is serving a 12-year sentence in Lashio
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

U Zawana was arrested in 1993 after meeting the UN special rapporteur for human rights, Yozo Yokota, and informing him of the dire human rights situation in Burma. He was sentenced to 29 years in prison. Upon his release in 2009, the authorities forbade him from returning to monkhood. He was forced to flee Burma in November 2009 and currently lives on the Thai-Burma border. Pyinnyar Wuntha, a fellow monk, is currently detained in Insein
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net

Yin Min Oo, a member of the NLD, was arrested in 1993 and accused of contacting illegal organisations. He was later falsely charged with high treason for a bombing incident in which he had no part, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He spent more than 11 years in prison before being released in 2004. He fled Burma in September 2005 and has now resettled in Norway. U Soe Hlaing, a member of the NLD, is currently detained in Tharawaddy
Photograph: James Mackay/enigmaimages.net