Tens of thousands of Mandalay residents lined the streets on Tuesday for the funeral procession of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, a National League for Democracy (NLD) vice-chairman and former chief minister of Mandalay Region, despite a heavy junta armed security presence.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung died of leukemia at age 73 on Monday, after spending years in junta detention since the 2021 coup.
Thousands of residents gathered at the funeral home in the morning, braving the risk of arrest or being shot.
The entire procession route was thronged by members of the public paying their final farewell to the man affectionately known as Doc Zaw. Teeming with bicycles, motorbikes, taxis and larger vehicles, the gathering was the biggest in Mandalay since the mass anti-coup protests in mid-2021.
One NLD member said the junta had deployed armed security forces led by lieutenant colonels along the entire funeral route. A mourner reported that motorbikes and vehicles in the cortège were barred from entering the cemetery.
Mourners shouted “[The revolution] must succeed” as Dr. Zaw Myint Maung’s body was placed in the hearse. NLD spokesman Dr. Myo Nyunt read the party’s tribute as part of the rites.
Civil society organizations, political organizations, and the foreign embassies of Britain, the US, Netherlands, Denmark and India expressed condolences and sent funeral flower baskets.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung’s wife and children, who are in hiding for fear of arrest, attended the funeral online, according to sources close to the family.
His daughter wrote on Facebook: “I know you will forgive me, but allow me to apologize. Please forgive me for failing to take care of you when you were on your deathbed. Forgive me for failing to send you off on your final journey. My heart is broken, Dad. We didn’t leave you behind, Dad. We were not allowed to stay beside you.”
She also thanked those who took care of her father and attended the funeral.
The civilian National Unity Government, NLD, Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar, and some Western embassies in Myanmar accused the regime of hastening Dr. Zaw Myint Maung’s demise by failing to provide adequate medical treatment.
Daw Cho Cho, wife of jailed NLD government president U Win Myint, attended the wake on Monday. Dr Myo Nyunt, U Htin Lin Oo and Daw Win Mya Mya of the NLD and prominent 88-Generation student leader U Mya Aye also paid their respects. Junta officials led by Mandalay Region chief minister Myo Aung were also at the wake.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung passed away at Mandalay General Hospital on Monday.
The four-time elected lawmaker was arrested along with other NLD leaders on the day of the coup on Feb. 1, 2021, and handed 29 years in jail on trumped-up charges of corruption and electoral fraud. He was thrown into Mandalay’s Obo prison.
Junta officials rushed to the hospital just hours before his death to deliver a pardon to the unconscious politician. The gesture appeared to be a desperate attempt to mask their failure to provide adequate medical care that might have saved the revered elder statesman’s life.
A poet from Mandalay commented: “Given his family background, Saya Zaw could have led a life of ease, but he sacrificed luxury for politics. He lived in freedom for only a short while after spending many years in prison, but he died unnecessarily at the hands of power-thirsty military dictators. He will be remembered for his deeds.”
Trained as a doctor, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung entered politics following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and won four elections representing the NLD: in 1990 (Amarapura), 2012 (Kyaukpadaung), 2015 (Amarapura) and 2020 (Amarapura).
His death has triggered a wave of mourning across the country.
“He deserved a state funeral, and though this was denied by the terrorist military, it was granted through the love of the people,” a former political prisoner from Mandalay said.
“This was a state funeral not just for the people of Mandalay, but for the entire country.”
