The Story of Ko Jimmy

 


The Story of Ko Jimmy: From 1988 Uprising to 2022 Execution

Ko Jimmy, born Kyaw Min Yu, was a prominent Burmese democracy activist who dedicated his life to resisting military dictatorship in Myanmar. His story reflects both the hopes and tragedies of Myanmar’s civil struggle.

Ko Jimmy first rose to prominence during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising, when students and civilians protested against the brutal military regime. At just 19 years old, he became a key figure in the 88 Generation Students Group, demanding democracy, freedom, and an end to military rule.

The protests were met with savage violence. The military killed an estimated 3,000 people. Ko Jimmy was arrested and spent more than 15 years in prison over the course of his life, enduring torture and solitary confinement.

After his release in the 2000s, he continued his peaceful activism, even writing a book called Prison of Darkness, about his time in jail. He supported Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and tried to promote reconciliation.

But in February 2021, the military staged another coup, overthrowing the elected government. Massive protests erupted. Ko Jimmy went into hiding, but was later arrested and accused of terrorism and plotting attacks—charges widely seen as fabricated.

On July 23, 2022, the military junta executed Ko Jimmy along with three other democracy activists. It was the first use of capital punishment in Myanmar in decades and sparked global outrage.

Ko Jimmy died for the same cause he had fought for since he was a teenager: freedom for the Burmese people.


His story is just one among thousands in Myanmar’s ongoing civil war—fought not only on battlefields but in classrooms, villages, and prison cells.

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