By Ra Wai / MPA
A literary figure has remarked that the democratic spirit of the people of Mandalay was on full display during the funeral of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung.
This morning, on 8 October at 10:00 AM, thousands of Mandalay residents accompanied the final journey of Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, as his body was transported from Kywe Seik Kan, Pyi Gyi Tagon Township, to Taung Inn Myauk Inn Cemetery in Mandalay.
“Security in Mandalay has been tightened for a long time, as clashes have become more frequent. Even today, soldiers and police in civilian clothes were stationed along the route, but there were cars and motorbikes everywhere, and there were tens of thousands of people. Along the roadside, people gathered to pay their respects to U Zaw. This clearly reflects the democratic spirit of the people of Mandalay,” a literary figure told MPA.
As the procession passed the Takhon Taing roundabout, the end of the line of vehicles had not yet left the Kywe Seik Kan area. The streets were filled with people paying their respects along the roadside, according to a Mandalay resident who participated in the funeral procession.
“I did not expect to see so many people, and I don’t think anyone else did either. If the military regime had sensed something, they would have arrested people. Yet, here we are, coming out from our homes to accompany U Zaw’s funeral. I believe those who came to the funeral share the same sentiments as I do,” said a resident of Pyi Gyi Tagon Township.
During his tenure as Chief Minister of Mandalay Region under the NLD government, Dr. Zaw Myint Maung and his team worked to develop Mandalay city. Despite his deteriorating health, he continued to stand firmly against military dictatorship until the end of his life, the literary figure added.
“That is why people accompanied his funeral with tears in their eyes and clenched fists,” he said.
Dr. Zaw Myint Maung passed away at around 3:00 AM on 7 October at Mandalay General Hospital. His remains will be cremated at Taung Inn Myauk Inn Cemetery, and his ashes will be enshrined in a tomb.
Since the founding of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Dr. Zaw Myint Maung had been actively involved in the democratic movement until his death. He had been imprisoned multiple times under successive military regimes. During the 2021 coup, he was unjustly charged under various laws and sentenced to a total of 29 years in prison. Despite being diagnosed with cancer, he was denied adequate medical care in prison and suffered severely from his illness before his death, according to a statement from the National Unity Government (NUG).
