Duwa Lashi La, the Acting President of the National Unity Government (NUG) sent a message of condolence after Khun Htun Oo, a former chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) in Myanmar, passed away on 30th April.

Khun Htun Oo, died on the afternoon of 30 April at his 9-mile residence in Yangon, at the age of 79. The condolence letter said that Khun Htun Oo was a patron of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) of ethnic organizations , and also a respected leader for all the ethnic groups that want to see democracy and a federal union in Myanmar.

"After doing your duties, Chairman Khun Htun Oo [you] left without saying goodbye,” SNLD Spokesperson Sai Leik posted on his social media.

Khun Htun Oo was born in Hsipaw, Shan State on 11th of September, 1943. After the 1988 uprising, he founded and chaired the SNLD party.

As an SNLD candidate, he became a member of parliament for the No.1 constituency in Hsipaw Township in the 1990 general elections.

Khun Htun Oo joined the Committee Representing the People’s Parliament (CRPP) led by Daw Aung San Su Kyi in 2002 on behalf of SLND.

In 2005 he was imprisoned by the military government State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) for more than 90 years, along with other Shan leaders, for treason and defamation. He was released from prison under an amnesty on 13th January, 2012 during the Thein Sein administration.

The UNA has about 70 partner organizations including the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD), the Rakhine League for Democracy, the Zomi Congress for Democracy, the
Shan State Kokant Democratic Party, the Kayan National Party, the Kachin National Democracy Congress, the Kayin National Party, the Danu Nationalities Democracy Party, the Khumi National Party, the Mro National Democracy Party, the Chin League for Democracy, and the Red Shan and Northern Shan Ethnic Solidarity Party.