By Nway / MPA
Dr Sein Win, a prominent figure in Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement and the first cousin of detained leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has died in the United States at the age of 83.
The National Unity Government (NUG), Myanmar’s current parallel administration, confirmed that Dr Sein Win passed away on Friday morning in Maryland.
Born into Myanmar’s most famous political family, he was the son of U Ba Win—a national martyr—and the nephew of independence hero General Aung San.
The NUG expressed deep sorrow in a formal statement, describing him as a “historic leader” who dedicated his life to fighting military dictatorship and striving for a federal democratic union.
Dr Sein Win was elected to parliament for the Paukkaung constituency in the 1990 general election, the results of which were ignored by the military.
Following the crackdown on political activists, he fled the country to lead the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). As Prime Minister of the government-in-exile, he spent decades lobbying the United Nations and international governments to maintain pressure on Myanmar’s military rulers.
The NUG highlighted his pivotal role in establishing the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) in 1992. He served as the chairman of its board until 2012, helping to break the military’s information blockade.
DVB also released a statement expressing their condolences for their founding chairman.
Tributes have poured in from former colleagues and the current resistance leadership.
“Dr Sein Win has gone ahead. He leaves behind the NCGUB he led and his history,” wrote Dr Tint Swe, a former cabinet minister who served alongside him, on social media.
The NUG stated that Dr Sein Win’s unwavering adherence to “political legitimacy” laid a strong foundation for the current Spring Revolution. They vowed to honour his legacy by continuing the fight to uproot military rule and establish a federal democracy.
