New Delhi (Mizzima) – Lack of proper medical treatment, is one of the major reasons for the deteriorating health conditions of political prisoners in Burma, an activists group said on Friday.
Bo Kyi, Joint Secretary of the Assistant Association of Political Prisoners in Burma (AAPP-B), said deplorable prison conditions, lack of proper medical treatment was causing alarming health situations for prisoners of conscience, in Burma.
“All political prisoners are struggling with health concerns and food security after the junta sent them to prisons in remote areas, which were far away from their families,” said Bo Kyi.
He said, most of the political prisoners in Burma, mainly depend on their family members for support such as food and medicines, and sending them to remote prisons, cuts off their supplies.
Bo Kyi said, he had recently received information that an 88 Generation students’ leader Hla Myo Naung was facing the danger of losing another eye, after he had already lost one earlier, while in detention, and another students’ leader Ko Ko Gyi was suffering from a liver problem.
Min Ko Naing, the prominent 88 Generation student leader, who is also suffering from an eye problem, is apprehensive that he might be paralyzed as a result of being detained in a dark-cell, which is small and cold, Bo Kyi added.
“They need immediate medical attention by specialists, otherwise their health is in danger and they would probably suffer strokes,” said Bo Kyi.
The family members of political prisoners also said, they found it difficult to pay frequent visits to prisons because of the distances and the need to spend extra time and money, which often posed a problem.
“Denying medical attention to those, who are really in need is murder, they [junta] are slowly murdering the political prisoners,” said Bo Kyi.
According to the AAPP-B list, at least 2,128 political prisoners were still languishing in prisons across Burma.
Meanwhile, activists across the globe have begun a signature campaign, demanding the release of detained political prisoners, including pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi.
In Tokyo, more than 50 activists from various Burmese political organizations, on Friday, began collecting signatures from both Burmese as well as other supporters, including Japanese people for the release of political prisoners in Burma.
Zaw Min Tun, joint secretary - 1 of the Japan branch of the National League for Democracy-Liberated Area (NLD-LA) told Mizzima, they would send a petition along with signatures of supporters to the United Nations’ General Secretary and also to the Japanese Foreign Minister.
“We will send the letter including those signatures to Ban Ki-moon and the Japanese Foreign Minister,” said Zaw Min Tun.
“We are planning to send the petition because they [the UN and Japan] seems to believe that the junta’s proposed 2010 general elections is the solution to Burma’s political crisis,” he added.
He said in the petition they had argued that the 2010 elections is not a solution to the political crisis in Burma, but the release of all political prisoners, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi would mean the first step towards resolution of the problems.
Activists said they are targeting 888,888 signatures around the globe.
In support of the campaign, UK-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), urged people to support the petition by signing on their new online petition, which aims for the release of all political prisoners in Burma.
Benedict Rogers, CSW’s East Asia Team Leader in a statement on Thursday said, “We strongly urge UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to make it an immediate personal priority to secure the release of all political prisoners in Burma, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.”
“Increased international pressure on Burma’s military regime is urgently needed. Action should be taken to put an end to the crimes against humanity, those committed against the Burmese people every single day,” Rogers added.
