Prisoners stage hunger strikes in Bassein Prison

DVB ( September 10, 2003 )

Seven political prisoners in Bassein (Pathein) Prison are staging a week long hunger strike for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

The strike started on the 6th of this month and on last Sunday, the prison authorities also stopped giving water to the protesters.

Their main demands are:

-the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi,
-the unconditional releases of all political prisoners,
-the implementation of the 1990 election and
-the improvement of the living conditions of political prisoners in all the prisons throughout Burma.

The participants of the hunger strike are:

-Ko Aung Hlaing Win of Oaktwin (death sentence)
-Ko Myo Aung of Pegu (death sentence)
-Ko Myo Thant of Pegu (death sentence) [Brother of Ko Myo Aung]
-Ko Myo Minn Zaw of Bahan (52 year sentence)
-Ko Than Htay of Dawpone (21 year sentence)
-Ko Kyaw Zin Htway of Thinggangyun (28 year sentence)
-Ko Nay Aung of Pyinmana (8 year sentence)

According to statistics collected by DVB, political prisoners have staged three hunger strikes in various Burmese jails including the ones in Kahmti and Mandalay.