Oct 23, 2008 (DVB), Veteran Burmese protester Dr Salai Tun Than, who is currently in New Delhi, has vowed to carry on with his solo demonstrations inside Burma as soon as he gets the opportunity.
"I’m still not accepting citizenship in the United States – I want to go inside Burma whenever I can – if I had the chance today, I’d go today and if I can go tomorrow, I’ll go tomorrow," Salai Tun Than said.
"I’m not a political activist, I’m only protesting against unfair treatment," he said.
"Even if I lose my life because of this, it will still be worth it if someone has learnt what it means to be fair to each other or what needs to be done from what I am doing."
Dr Salai Tun Than, who is now 80 years old, was detained in Rangoon in 2001 after he staged a solo demonstration in front of Rangoon city hall on 28 November.
He was released by the authorities in May 2003 after nearly two years in detention.
After leaving Burma, Tun Than once tried to enter Burma to stage a demonstration to mark opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 61st birthday on 19 June 2006.
But his plan failed when Thai Airways, with whom he had booked tickets for his flight to Rangoon, refused to let him on the plane.
Reporting by Khin Maung Soe Min
