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Aung San Suu Kyi's World: Portraits of Burmese Dissidents and Activists

  • Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, leader of the opposition party the NLD and Burma's democracy icon, spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. First detained in July 1989 for 6 years, she was put back under house arrest again from 1999 to 2002 and then finally again in May 2003 after the infamous Depayin incident where the military regime attempted to assassinate her. She was released from her latest sentence in November 2010 and continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma in spite of constant threats and oppression from the authorities. Soe Min Min, a member of the NLD who was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 8 years for praying for Aung San Suu Kyi's release whilst she was under house arrest. He was released from Insein prison under a presidential amnesty in January 2012. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
    1/5

    TIME Burmese dissidents

    Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, leader of the opposition party the NLD and Burma's democracy icon, spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. First detained in July 1989 for 6 years, she was put back under house arrest again from 1999 to 2002 and then finally again in May 2003 after the infamous Depayin incident where the military regime attempted to assassinate her. She was released from her latest sentence in November 2010 and continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma in spite of constant threats and oppression from the authorities. Soe Min Min, a member of the NLD who was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 8 years for praying for Aung San Suu Kyi's release whilst she was under house arrest. He was released from Insein prison under a presidential amnesty in January 2012. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net)

    Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com
  • Myo Myint, former engineer in the Burmese army and member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), was arrested in 1989 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the mass uprising of 1988. He spent 15 years in Insein, Tharawaddy and Taungoo prisons before his release in 2004. He fled to the Thai-Burma border before being resettled in the U.S. His life story has been portrayed in the documentary film "Burma Soldier." Nay Min, a colleague of Myo Myint and reporter who was first jailed in 1989, was arrested again in 2004 and sentenced to 15 years in Tharawaddy prison. He was released under amnesty in October 2011. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
    2/5

    TIME Burmese dissidents

    Myo Myint, former engineer in the Burmese army and member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), was arrested in 1989 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the mass uprising of 1988. He spent 15 years in Insein, Tharawaddy and Taungoo prisons before his release in 2004. He fled to the Thai-Burma border before being resettled in the U.S. His life story has been portrayed in the documentary film "Burma Soldier." Nay Min, a colleague of Myo Myint and reporter who was first jailed in 1989, was arrested again in 2004 and sentenced to 15 years in Tharawaddy prison. He was released under amnesty in October 2011. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net)

    Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com
  • U Chit Tin, an elected member of parliament for the NLD in the 1990 general election, was arrested in November 1990 for his involvement in a secret meeting in Mandalay to organize a parallel government. He was charged with high treason and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He spent two years in Insein before being released under amnesty in 1992. He fled Burma in 2004 and is now living n Nupo refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border awaiting resettlement to a third country. Dr. Tin Min Htut, also an elected MP for the NLD was first arrested in 1997 and charged with illegal possession of foreign currency when the authorities found two Singapore coins in a toy cup belonging to his son. He was jailed for three years. In 2008 along with four other members of the NLD he wrote a letter of concern to the UN Secretary General and was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In January 2012 he was released from Insein prison under a Presidential Amnesty. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
    3/5

    TIME Burmese dissidents

    U Chit Tin, an elected member of parliament for the NLD in the 1990 general election, was arrested in November 1990 for his involvement in a secret meeting in Mandalay to organize a parallel government. He was charged with high treason and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He spent two years in Insein before being released under amnesty in 1992. He fled Burma in 2004 and is now living n Nupo refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border awaiting resettlement to a third country. Dr. Tin Min Htut, also an elected MP for the NLD was first arrested in 1997 and charged with illegal possession of foreign currency when the authorities found two Singapore coins in a toy cup belonging to his son. He was jailed for three years. In 2008 along with four other members of the NLD he wrote a letter of concern to the UN Secretary General and was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In January 2012 he was released from Insein prison under a Presidential Amnesty. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net)

    Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com
  • 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 performed 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 prison. During interrogation he was badly tortured and had to have half of his lung removed. He was released from prison to receive emergency medical care but was re-arrested once he left hospital to serve the rest of his sentence. He fled Burma and is now a refugee in Umpiem Mai camp on the Thai-Burma border. Aung Aung Oo, a student friend of Tun Lin Kyaw was arrested in March 2006 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his underground political activities. He was released under a Presidential Amnesty in January 2012. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
    4/5

    TIME Burmese dissidents

    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 performed 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 prison. During interrogation he was badly tortured and had to have half of his lung removed. He was released from prison to receive emergency medical care but was re-arrested once he left hospital to serve the rest of his sentence. He fled Burma and is now a refugee in Umpiem Mai camp on the Thai-Burma border. Aung Aung Oo, a student friend of Tun Lin Kyaw was arrested in March 2006 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his underground political activities. He was released under a Presidential Amnesty in January 2012. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net)

    Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com
  • U Zawana was arrested in 1993 after meeting with 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 jail. Upon his release in 2009 the authorities forbade him to return to monkhood so was forced to flee Burma in November 2009 and currently lives on the Thai-Burma border. U Pyinnyar Wuntha is a colleague of U Zawana and a fellow monk currently detained in Insein prison. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
    5/5

    TIME Burmese dissidents

    U Zawana was arrested in 1993 after meeting with 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 jail. Upon his release in 2009 the authorities forbade him to return to monkhood so was forced to flee Burma in November 2009 and currently lives on the Thai-Burma border. U Pyinnyar Wuntha is a colleague of U Zawana and a fellow monk currently detained in Insein prison. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net)

    Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner, leader of the opposition party the NLD and Burma's democracy icon, spent more than 15 years under house arrest in her lakeside home and Insein prison. First detained in July 1989 for 6 years, she was put back under house arrest again from 1999 to 2002 and then finally again in May 2003 after the infamous Depayin incident where the military regime attempted to assassinate her. She was released from her latest sentence in November 2010 and continues to work tirelessly to achieve democracy and national reconciliation in Burma in spite of constant threats and oppression from the authorities. Soe Min Min, a member of the NLD who was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to 8 years for praying for Aung San Suu Kyi's release whilst she was under house arrest. He was released from Insein prison under a presidential amnesty in January 2012. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
Myo Myint, former engineer in the Burmese army and member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), was arrested in 1989 and sentenced to 15 years in prison for his involvement in the mass uprising of 1988. He spent 15 years in Insein, Tharawaddy and Taungoo prisons before his release in 2004. He fled to the Thai-Burma border before being resettled in the U.S. His life story has been portrayed in the documentary film "Burma Soldier." Nay Min, a colleague of Myo Myint and reporter who was first jailed in 1989, was arrested again in 2004 and sentenced to 15 years in Tharawaddy prison. He was released under amnesty in October 2011. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
U Chit Tin, an elected member of parliament for the NLD in the 1990 general election, was arrested in November 1990 for his involvement in a secret meeting in Mandalay to organize a parallel government. He was charged with high treason and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He spent two years in Insein before being released under amnesty in 1992. He fled Burma in 2004 and is now living n Nupo refugee camp on the Thai-Burma border awaiting resettlement to a third country. Dr. Tin Min Htut, also an elected MP for the NLD was first arrested in 1997 and charged with illegal possession of foreign currency when the authorities found two Singapore coins in a toy cup belonging to his son. He was jailed for three years. In 2008 along with four other members of the NLD he wrote a letter of concern to the UN Secretary General and was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In January 2012 he was released from Insein prison under a Presidential Amnesty. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
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 performed 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 prison. During interrogation he was badly tortured and had to have half of his lung removed. He was released from prison to receive emergency medical care but was re-arrested once he left hospital to serve the rest of his sentence. He fled Burma and is now a refugee in Umpiem Mai camp on the Thai-Burma border. Aung Aung Oo, a student friend of Tun Lin Kyaw was arrested in March 2006 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his underground political activities. He was released under a Presidential Amnesty in January 2012. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>
U Zawana was arrested in 1993 after meeting with 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 jail. Upon his release in 2009 the authorities forbade him to return to monkhood so was forced to flee Burma in November 2009 and currently lives on the Thai-Burma border. U Pyinnyar Wuntha is a colleague of U Zawana and a fellow monk currently detained in Insein prison. (Photo by James Mackay / enigmaimages.net) <br> <br> <a href="http://world.time.com/2012/09/19/aung-san-suu-kyis-world-portraits-of-burmese-dissidents-and-activists/#aung-san-suu-kyi-at-her-home-in-rangoon-burma" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">Click here to see the full collection at TIME.com</a>

Working on a series originally entitled "Even Though I'm Free I Am Not," photographer James Mackay spent three years taking portraits of Burmese dissidents and democracy activists, including the Nobel laureate and famed Burmese democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi. In each photo, the subject lifts his or her hand in the classic Buddhist gesture of the abhaya mudra, a sign representing protection, peace and the dispelling of fear. Inscribed on their raised hands are the names of allies, friends, kindred spirits who were still in detention at the time the photo was taken.