Moe Hein

Moe Hein , also known as Washington Roosevelt, is a Burmese journalist and former student activist. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of the Thuriya Naywun Journal. A prominent student leader in the 8888 movement, Moe Hein has been accused of betraying his activist roots by later supporting the military junta.

Career After the Burmese army seized power in September 1988, Moe Hein, then a Rangoon University student, along with other student leaders Min Ko Naing and Moethee Zun, helped to organize what became known as the 8888 nationwide student uprising in 1988. He served as the secretary of the Democratic Party for a New Society, and was subsequently imprisoned by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the military junta. However, he was released from prison soon after, and began writing several articles critical of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party, the winner of the 1990 Myanmar general election, in junta-controlled newspapers. The junta then granted him a license to engage in the petrol trading business. The petrol business was a success, and Moe Hein launched Gandawin Bagan, a company that promoted concerts. However, for whatever reason, he fled to Thailand where he was granted asylum to emigrate to the United States. The Sunlight was allegedly raided by a group backed by Nay Shwe Thway Aung, grandson of the former military junta leader Gen. Than Shwe, and Thurein Win Myint, son of Win Myint, the former Commerce Minister. He then founded the Thuriya Naywun journal in 2014. The journal published articles, critical of the former military junta regime and the crony businessmen who allegedly reaped benefits due to their links with the regime. Moe Hein also owns The Steel Rose Journal.

Moe Hein holds American citizenship. He was blacklisted along with his family members, preventing entry into the country under any circumstance by the Ministry of Immigration and Population in June 2014. However, in 2024, he criticized Min Aung Hlaing and other junta members for self-interest and apathy towards the plight of frontline soldiers.

Awards and recognition On March 2, 2026, he was conferred the Medal for Excellent Performance in Social Field (First Class), one of the highest national medals awarded by the Government of Myanmar for exceptional contributions to social welfare.