US Senators Send Urgent Appeal to UN Chiefs as Burma Activists Face
Health Crisis
Country's Second Most Prominent Political Prisoner in Danger of
Blindness, Death
U.S. Campaign for Burma Press Release, May 1st, 2008
Contact: Jeremy Woodrum (202) 234-8022 office
(Wa****ngton, DC and New York) The US Campaign for Burma today welcomed
a letter sent by leading U.S. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), and
Diane Feinstein (D-CA) to the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-
Moon and the UN's human rights chief Louise Arbour. The letter called
on the United Nations' leaders to publicly call for the release of
Burma's two most prominent political prisoners - Min Ko Naing and
Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi.
"Newspapers re****ted over a week ago that Min Ko Naing is in grave
physical danger," said Aung Din, referring to Burma's second most
prominent political prisoner after detained Nobel Peace Prize
recipient Aung San Suu Kyi. "Yet, Ban Ki-moon has remained silent.
While Ban Ki-moon remains silent, Min Ko Naing might go blind, or
worse."
Min Ko Naing, leader of the "88 Generation Students" group,
spearheaded demonstrations last autumn that led to hundreds of
thousands of Buddhist monks marching on the streets. The marches and
the military regime's subsequent crackdown were covered on the front
pages of newspapers throughout the world. Min Ko Naing had also
organized a nationwide popular uprising in 1988 that nearly toppled
military rule in Burma. He was imprisoned over 15 years from
1989-2004, detained for over three months from September 2006 -
January 2007, and released before his re-arrest in August 2007. After
Aung San Suu Kyi, he is the single most popular figure in Burma.
Locked up in the infamous Insein Prison (pronounced "insane"), he has
contracted an eye infection that will make him blind unless he is
treated. Infections also often lead to death in Burma's prisons.
Recently, NLD Spokesperson U Myint Thein died of cancer which was left
untreated during his detention in Insein Prison in October 2007.
Meanwhile, Aung San Suu Kyi has been denied a visit from her doctor
since January 24th, 2008. According to a briefing by the US State
Department on April 22nd, the military regime promised the UN
Secretary-General's envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari that Suu Kyi would
receive frequent visits from her doctor. Gambari himself confirmed
this at the beginning of this month when he stated in the Irrawaddy
Magazine, "I raised this issue with the government. They responded by
making access to a medical doctor much more regular."
"The military regime is deliberately trying to destroy the health of
Burma's two most im****tant leaders," added Aung Din. "Instead of
remaining silent, Ban Ki-moon should publicly demand the immediate
release of Aung San Suu Kyi and Min Ko Naing. How can there be
peaceful national reconciliation in Burma when these people are locked
up and left without proper medical treatment?"
Aung San Suu Kyi's detention is scheduled to end on May 27th. The
military regime will either extend her detention or release her. It is
expected that they will extend her detention.
"With Aung San Suu Kyi's detention nearing an end, now is the time the
UN Secretary-General should use his voice and his position to publicly
demand the release of these two leaders and insist that China do the
same," continues Aung Din.
China is the No. 1 sup****ter of Burma's military regime, providing
billions of dollars worth of weapons and financing while vetoing all
effective action on Burma at the UN Security Council. The European
Union plans to call for a global arms embargo on Burma next week and
the United States has already said it would sup****t such an endeavor.
Burma's military regime has imprisoned up to 2,000 political
prisoners. ###
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U.S. Campaign for Burma
1444 N Street, NW, #A2
Wa****ngton 20005
Tel: (202) 234 8022
Fax: (202) 234 8044
info@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
For more information:
Contact to : Ko Tate Naing at (66) 81-2878751 (Thai GSM)
: Ko Bo Kyi at (66) 81- 3248935 (Thai GSM)
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