U Win Tin, the veteran NLD leader, former journalist and ex-political prisoner, died of renal failure on Monday morning at a Rangoon hospital, aged 85.

On Friday, his physician Dr Myint Thein confirmed that Win Tin had suffered from kidney failure and was fighting to survive. “Medication has not worked. Our only option is an operation to cleanse his kidneys,” he told DVB, adding that, despite the high risk, Win Tin wanted to proceed with the operation.

Born in Pegu Division on 21 March 1929, Win Tin rose to become a noted journalist. In 1988 he was a co-founder, alongside Aung San Suu Kyi, of the opposition National League for Democracy. He was jailed by the ruling military junta in 1989, and spent a total of 19 years in prison during which time his health deteriorated due to mistreatment and torture. He was finally released in 2008, and continued to be an inspirational opposition leader until his final days.

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