Home is where the hurt is for Daw San San

Home is where the hurt is for Daw San San

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It is not unusual for House of Representatives legislators to
hold hearings late into the night, especially when high-profile
cases are involved.

On one particular evening recently, however, only four of 50-
something legislators from House Commission I on defense, foreign
and information affairs, showed up for the hearing.

The rest failed to have the courtesy to welcome two Myanmarese
prodemocracy activists, Daw San San and Khin Ohmar, who came all
the way from their place of exile in Mae Sot, Thailand, to meet
the legislators.

It would not have been so pathetic had San San been in her
late 30s, like Ohmar. However, San San is 73 years old: Clad in
blouse and sarong, she looked like an abandoned grandmother in a
room full of empty chairs.

But rarely is any grandmother as relentless as San San, a
long-time prodemocracy advocate who has visited many countries to
seek support in the struggle against the military junta or to
receive awards on behalf of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

San San demanded Indonesia and other countries oppose
Myanmar's turn next year to hold the chairmanship of the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as it will
tarnish the countries' credibility.

"I know, some of you may be thinking that, at my age, I should
be at home, enjoying life with my family. I wish for that too,
but unfortunately, what is happening in my country does not
permit that luxury," San San told the legislators.

In an interview with The Jakarta Post a few days later, she
said the situation in Myanmar was deteriorating, both
democratically and economically.

"There are problems of drug trafficking and terrorism.
Activists are being harassed and arrested. As the largest
democratic country in the region, I asked Indonesia to lend a
helping hand," San San said in simple English, in tones stripped
of emotion.

A former marine biologist, San San's active involvement in
politics was heightened during the People's Uprising against the
junta in 1988. Back then, she was a deputy director in the labor
department.

"I was elected as president of the labor union. But then I was
forced to resign," she said.

In the 1990 general elections, at which the National League
for Democracy (NLD) led by Nobel laureate Suu Kyi won 81 percent
of the seats, San San became an elected member of parliament.

The parliament, however, was not convened. Instead, the
military started harassing elected members, forcing them to
resign, arrested many others and declared many political parties
illegal.

San San was among those arrested, but was given some sort of
amnesty by the Home Affairs Ministry; she was released in 1992.

"They issued a statement, saying that I was not a danger to
the state," she said.

However, after she was elected as NLD vice president for
Yangon division in 1997, the amnesty was withdrawn. She was
arrested with other prominent NLD members after attempting to
hold a meeting with Suu Kyi.

For at least the first three months of her 25-year sentence,
she was held in prison without access to her family, doctors or a
lawyer.

Reports described her cell as having a very low ceiling, with
only a tiny window, and prisoners sleeping on bamboo mats on the
ground. The toilet was a muddy bowl in the center of the room and
was emptied only once a day. The women were often forced to sit
cross-legged on the ground with their heads bowed.

San San drew a picture of the prison as a place where rats
were rife.

"It was a brick building, but my room was wooden, not made of
brick and concrete, so rats could come and go. I then asked for a
cat. But it was so small, it was afraid of the rats. So, I often
caught them myself," she said, laughing.

As an elderly woman, she managed to escape physical torture,
but things were different for male activists.

"They would cut their work and sources of earning money so
that they would not be able to support their families. They would
also be beaten mercilessly, or be put into some sort of well full
of human excrement. That's why there are many women activists in
Burma -- it is much more difficult for men," said San San, whose
husband, a civil servant, died in 1994.

In 2001, already 69 years old, San San was released due to her
failing health. She was suffering from hepatitis.

However, she was warned by the authorities that if she were to
get involved in politics again, she would have to settle the
prison debt.

"Of course I didn't listen to them. I tried to continue
working because I felt the mandate of the people was more
important," she said.

In 2003, after the Depayin massacre, in which many people were
killed and many others, including Suu Kyi, were arrested, San San
decided to flee to Mae Sot, Thailand.

"I dressed like an old man. I told the border security
officials that I wasn't feeling well and couldn't leave my car at
the checkpoint," said San San.

In Mae Sot, she lived with fellow activists, with financial
support coming from the United States and Australia. The latter
granted her political asylum and provides her with a travel
document similar to a passport.

Asked if she had been afraid at all, San San said she was
sometimes afraid that members of her family might suffer and be
arrested. That was why she never contacted her five children and
six grandchildren.

"My family did not know I fled. I never make contact with them
because the authorities always tap my telephone. Even some of my
relatives are agents," said San San.

She did not wish her children to become activists, saying that
one activist was enough in her family.

"My eldest sister used to be involved in politics. She was not
forced to resign, but after 20 years to 25 years working as civil
servant, she is still a low-ranking official," San San said.

Her strong facade, however, crumbled a little as she recalled
her family.

"I try to forget.. but sometimes in the afternoon, as the sun
is setting ... I miss my grandchildren," she said, looking into
the distance.

Asked again if she was exhausted by the struggle, San San only
laughed. Clearly, regardless of her state of health or exile, she
would not cease to strive for freedom in Myanmar.