Mizzima News

New Delhi (Mizzima) - Detained student leader Min Ko Naing, recently sentenced to 65 years in prison, is suffering from a severe eye ailment and is in need of immediate attention of an eye specialist, his sister, who visited him at Keng Tung prison in Shan state, said.

His sister Kyi Kyi Nyunt, who visited the prominent student leader on Thursday, said Min Ko Naing is in solitary confinement in the Keng Tung prison. He is suffering from an eye problem and his condition is deteriorating. He needs the attention of an eye specialist.

"We have requested the prison authorities to allow him a check-up and medical attention by an eye specialist," Kyi Kyi Nyunt told Mizzima over telephone, adding that the student leader has been suffering from the eye ailment since his detention in Rangoon's Insein prison.  

Kyi Kyi Nyunt said that Min Ko Naing is kept in a separate cell all by himself and though the prison situation seems normal, the severe weather in Keng Tung is having an adverse affect on his health.

"It is like keeping him in a refrigerator," said Kyi Kyi Nyunt, adding that she had requested the prison authorities to allow him to walk around and be in the sun occasionally because he seems to be having difficulty in moving his hands and feet due to the severe cold.

Prominent student leaders Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi, who were arrested in mid-August 2007, after leading a peaceful march in Rangoon for a roll back of fuel prices which had pushed up costs of  essential commodities, were shifted to Keng Tung prison last month after being handed lengthy prison terms of 65 years.