Imprisioned Burmese Labour Rights Activist Dies

Imprisioned Burmese Labour Rights Activist Dies

Press Release: Terry Evans

30 December 2008

Burmese labour rights activist Htay Lwin Oo died in a Mandalay prison earlier this wee. He had been suffering from tuberculosis. Htay Lwin Oo was a respected teacher and member of the main opposition party, the National League for Democracy. Arrested on 21 December 2003 and sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment under section 5(J) of the Junta's draconian Emergency Provisions Act, he was due for release in December 2009.

The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) called Htay Lwin Oo’s death unnecessary. “Tuberculosis can be treated, but the junta left him untreated,” said Bo Kyi, joint-secretary of the AAPP. “There are quite a few political prisoners facing certain death because of the junta's harsh treatment of political prisoners,” Bo Kyi said.

Htay Lwin Oo's death brings the number of Burmese political prisoners who have died since the 1988 "People Power" uprising to 138, according to the AAPP.

ENDS

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