Min Ko Naing At Risk Of Blindness

Mizzima News

Wednesday, 23 April 2008 00:00

The United States is reporting that high profile political prisoner Min Ko Naing is at risk of losing his eyesight due to the intransigence of Burmese authorities. A statement released yesterday by the United States State Department condemned "the failure of Burma's authorities to provide proper medical treatment to a number of prisoners, who may suffer irreparable damages due to the lack of prompt medical attention." The missive refers to information gleaned by the State Department to the effect that 88 generation student leader Min Ko Naing, imprisoned August 21st of last year for leading protests against price hikes in the energy sector, is suffering from a potentially blinding eye infection. "The intentional withholding of necessary medical treatment for political reasons is a serious violation of human rights," are the words of State Department Spokesperson Tom Casey. Casey, in the correspondence, gave notice that denial of medical treatment to political prisoners is a recurring abuse within Burma's penal system. National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been deprived monthly doctoral consultations, continued Casey, despite this being part of an agreement with United Nations Special Envoy to Burma Ibrahim Gambari. Additionally, in March, NLD spokesperson U Myint Thein died of cancer that was left untreated while in detention following his role in September's protests. According to Amnesty International, "inadequate medical treatment" was at least partially to blame in the deaths of six political prisoners while in custody during 2007. Min Ko Naing served 15 years in prison, released in 2004, as the most prominent student leader of the 1988/89 uprisings. He was subsequently rearrested in September 2006 and released in January 2007. < Prev   Next >