CSW calls for urgent treatment for prisoner

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) today called on the military regime in Burma to provide proper medical treatment to political prisoners, including Ko Mya Aye, one of the leaders of 88 Generation Students Group, who led protests in 1988 and again in 2007. CSW has also urged the international community to intervene in his case.

Ko Mya Aye is currently serving a 65 year prison sentence for his involvement in leading peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2007. On 9 April he was moved from Loikaw Prison in Karenni State to Taungyi Prison in Shan State. He has reportedly been placed in a cell on death row, with no toilet or running water, and is denied exercise. According to sources, Ko Mya Aye has suffered heart failure caused by angina, and requires urgent medical treatment. He is also suffering from hypertension and gastric problems.

Taungyi prison is 450 miles away from Rangoon and 16 miles away from Taungyi City. Ko Mya Aye needs proper medical tests that can only be carried out in Rangoon. It is believed he may require an angioplasty operation or coronary artery bypass graft. Prison authorities have so far not permitted access to any medical tests or any treatment at all, leaving him very vulnerable to another angina attack which could be extremely serious.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), at least 137 political prisoners are in poor health due to inhumane prison conditions, and are denied proper medical care. CSW has written to several governments today urging the international community to put pressure on the regime to provide proper medical treatment to political prisoners.

CSW’s East Asia Team Leader Benedict Rogers said: “The situation for Ko Mya Aye is critical, and we urge the Burmese regime to release him, or at least to move him to Rangoon and provide the medical treatment he desperately requires. We urge the international community, including the United Nations Secretary-General, to intervene to put pressure on the Burmese regime to provide proper medical treatment for Ko Mya Aye and all political prisoners. Continued denial of medical treatment will have extremely serious consequences and should be regarded as a serious crime.”