National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi has called for a museum to be opened, dedicated to her colleague Win Tin, the party’s co-founder, who passed away earlier this week.

When visiting Win Tin’s modest home in Rangoon’s Yankin Township shortly after the veteran politician’s death on Monday, Suu Kyi suggested converting the house into a museum with his books and personal belongings lying where he left them.

“Daw Suu visited here and gave us some words of advice,” said Zaw Myo Aung, Win Tin’s close aide and executive member of the Win Tin Foundation. “It was to keep the house and his belongings intact so that the building could be moved to a different location and be opened to the public as a museum.”

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The Win Tin Foundation provides assistance for the rehabilitation of former political prisoners, and is run on private donations and international awards received by Win Tin, as well as from the profits of books he published.

Win Tin was long respected for his humble lifestyle– a modest man with few possessions, mostly books. His personal items are currently under the care of his close friend, Ohn Tun, who owns the house.

“About three years ago, the old reading glasses he wore in prison were sold to someone in the United States for around US$60,000,” said Zaw Myo Aung.

“We will preserve his belongings and transfer them to the museum when it takes shape, so that future generations will know what kind of person U Win Tin was, and appreciate the humble way he lived.”

Win Tin died from kidney failure in Rangoon General Hospital on 21 April. His funeral was held on 23 April.