He was one of the founding members of the NLD and a close aide of Aung San Suu Kyi. He was put behind bars for 3 years along with other party leaders. After he was released from prison, he was not allowed to publish any poems and books, and he was banned from giving speeches at literary ceremonies. As a result he fled from Burma to Belgium, and gave a literary speech in Sydney, Australia in December 2000. Away from the stifling censorship of his homeland, he can now talk freely, independently, fearlessly and openly.