Ko Ko Lay was elected as a President of International Foundation for Burma National Congress (IFBNC) at the Buffalo Conference in New York State, USA, Currently he is serving as a President International Foundation for Burma National Congress (IFBNC).

Ko Ko Lay, an exile Burmese activist, currently in the United States, continues struggling for peace, social justice and freedom in his motherland, Burma. While a final year philosophy student, he was one of the student leaders, who organized a popular people's uprising in Burma on August 8, 1988. On September 18, 1988, the Burmese military brutally cracked down the nationwide peaceful demonstrations and took power. More than 3,000 students and civilians were shot killed in the streets of many cities and thousands of activists were arrested and tortured by the Burmese military regime.

Consequently, more than 10,000 students left Burma and formed All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) on the Thai Burma border after the military regime coup. Ko Ko Lay was elected as a member of the Central Executive Committee of ABSDF and served as a Secretary of Information. After his two terms of service in ABSDF, he decided to continue his studies and migrated to the U.S.

Ko Ko Lay has achieved an A.S. degree in Photography, a B.A. degree in Industrial Design, and Global Peace and a M.A.I.A degree in, Social Change Design and Conflict Resolution with an emphasis in International Conflicts. He is a founder of Open Students Network for Burma at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Ko Ko has also served as a member of the Strategic Coordinating Committee, including the National Coalition Government of Union of Burma (NCGUB) and National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB).

In fall 2007, the last semester of his Master program, Ko Ko was the only one in his entire University selected by the President of SFSU for the Congressional Internship Program in Washington D.C. sponsored by Sylvia and Leon Panetta Institute. Ko Ko served at the office of Congressman Tom Lantos in Washington D.C and had the opportunity to participate in organizing the Congressional Human Rights Caucus (CHRC) regarding Burma issues and the process of introducing the Jade Bill at the U.S. Congress. Later on, the Burma Jade Bill was signed by President George W. Bush and became law.

In spring 2008, as a representative of 88 Generation Students Exile group, Ko Ko went on an Asia Five Countries Tour to organize against the undemocratic constitution and referendum held by the Burmese military during the time when the Cyclone Nagis hit Burma. In fall 2008, he ran as an Operation Director for the Credential Challenge campaign challenging the credential of the Burmese military regime at the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Since year 2007 he is serving as a Director of the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB) in San Francisco and also a core member of 88 Generation Students Exile. Ko Ko has opened his photo and design studio and is running his own business for living in San Francisco.

In July 3 rd and 4th 2009, he drove cross country drive to New York State to attend a Burma Democratic Forces Strategic Conference in Utica, NY. He was elected as a Honorable Chairperson and served on first day of the Utica Conference.

In 2010 Ko KO drove cross country drive to New York State to attend Anti-military dictatorship conference in Buffalo, NY. At the Buffalo Conference, International foundation for Burma National Congress (IFBNC) and Ko Ko was elected as a President of (IFBNC).

In July and August 2010, Ko Ko Lay attend the Forum of Burmese in Europe (FBE) meeting in Sweden as a USA delegation representing (IFBNC). He pursued to get support for formation of a Congress regarding Burma.

Through sharing his first-hand personal experiences and knowledge of Burma. Ko Ko helps raise awareness about the Burmese student movements, the struggle for democracy, human rights issues and the consequences of oil production in Burma. Topics covered

Topics covered

* Anti-Dictatorship, Democracy, Human Rights and Social Justice Movements in Burma

* Consequences of Militarism in Burma