Political prisoners’ health conditions

DVB ( 26 November 2003 )

The health conditions of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s bodyguards Ko Than Tun and Ko Toe Lwin who were arrested during Dipeyin assault and currently being incarcerated at Khamti Prison in upper Burma are said to be deteriorating.

Ko Than Tun is suffering from a severe strain of malaria and the wounds on Ko Toe Lwin’s head have not yet healed. The latter received the worst blows meted out by the SPDC-sponsored thugs among the youth during the assault.

Meanwhile, U Tun Myint, 61, who was arrested and imprisoned in 2000 was recently hospitalised at Insein Hospital in Rangoon due to his deteriorating health condition. He has been suffering from gastric complaints and loss of sight.

At the same time, the secretary of Thingangyun Township NLD Daw Than Myint Aye who is serving 21 year sentence had a stroke at Myaungmya Prison in Irrawaddy Division.

Her daughter Hnin May Aung, a NLD youth member is serving 42 year sentence at the same prison.

There are some 1300 political prisoners in Burma and the UN special human rights envoy to Burma, Mr Paulo Sergio Pinheiro and the international community have been demanding their unconditional release but the military regime has been ignoring their demand.