Nov 7, 2007 (DVB), Ko Ko Win, a member of the National League for Democracy's youth wing, died on Sunday from brain injuries sustained during the government's crackdown on protests in September, said a party source.

Ko Ko Win, a 22-year-old NLD youth member from South Okklapa township in Rangoon, was left with brain damage after being brutally beaten by government security forces during a protest at Sule pagoda on 27 September, according to a South Okkalapa NLD official.

"He was brutally beaten on his body and head by government security forces at Sule on 27 September. He was left unconscious on sidewalk until someone who knew him woke him up and took him home," the official said.

Two days after that, Ko Ko Win collapsed suddenly and was taken to a doctor. When he fainted again on 24 October, his family took him to Sanpya hospital in Thingangyun.

"The doctors there, on learning that he was suffering from a brain injury, suggested the family took him to [New] Rangoon hospital in Dagon township. They had scheduled to send him there on Monday. But he died on Sunday evening around 11pm," the NLD official said.

"We visited him on Sunday afternoon and he didn’t look very good. He could not eat anymore," he added.

The official said that Ko Ko Win's family was too afraid to send him to hospital earlier as they had heard local township authorities announcing over loudspeakers that they would be arresting people who had been involved in the protest.

The NLD official said that Ko Ko Win would be sadly missed by the party.

"He was a good man with a fair personality. He was really interested in his job. His death is such a loss for us," he said.

Ko Ko Win’s remains were cremated on Monday. His family will hold a memorial for him this Friday.

Reporting by Aye Aye Mon