He captured a fresh start for Myanmar … and then its descent into tragedy
The first of April 2012 was a historic, emotional and profoundly hopeful day in Myanmar’s history. Aung San Suu Kyi, for decades an exile from the country and then a political prisoner under house arrest for 15 years, finally won a byelection vote for a seat in parliament. The following morning many citizens and the world’s media gathered in Yangon at the offices of her party, the National League for Democracy, to hear from or catch a glimpse of the new leader of the opposition.
Many renowned photojournalists were in attendance. Among the throng was a 23-year-old medical student called Minzayar Oo. A hobbyist with a camera – after six years of university, Minzayar Oo was just about to qualify as a doctor – but the news agency Reuters had said it would look at any pictures he took. In
