Student leader Htay Kywe's mother die

Prominent 88 generation student, Htay Kywe's mother dies

Maung Dee

Mizzima News ( www.mizzima.com)

November 30, 2007 - Daw Mi Mi Lay (68), mother of Burma's prominent detained activist, Htay Kywe died on Thursday evening at her residence in Rangoon , family sources said.

She died at about 9 p.m. (local time) after suffering from brain tumor and paralysis, Htay Kywe's sister Khin San Myint, said.

"Our mother has been suffering from cancer in the abdomen for four years now. She went to Bangkok for treatment but it seems the malignant cells had spread to her brain. Half her body was paralysed," Khin San Myint, told Mizzima.

Daw Mi Mi Lay will be cremated on December 3 and family members said they will seek permission from prison authorities at Insein to allow Htay Kywe to attend the funeral service.

"We don't know whether he [Htay Kywe] will be allowed to attend the funeral service, but we want him to at least pay his last respects to mother. I feel really sorry for my brother," Khin San Myint told Mizzima even as she began to cry.

Htay Kywe, one of the 88 generation student members, who led the September peoples' protest, was arrested after visiting his mother in Shwegonedine Special Clinic when her health deteriorated.

However, fearing that his mother's health might deteriorate further, Htay Kywe requested family members not to disclose his arrest to her. Daw Mi Mi Lay died unaware about her son's detention.

"Our mother was waiting for her son. Since she was terminally ill, we did not dare disclose the truth about him [Htay Kywe]. We appealed to the authorities to allow him to come to the hospital before mother died but not long after we made the request mother passed away," continued Khin San Myint.

Htay Kywe's colleagues, the 88 generation students and the All Burma Federation of Students Union expressed sorrow over the death of Htay Kwe's mother and said they will offer flowers as a token of their grief.

"I put myself in his [Htay Kywe] shoes and I feel sad. I feel the same way as he is feeling now," said Kyaw Ko Ko from the ABFSU.

Daw Mi Mi Lay leaves behind five children including Htay Kywe.