Denying Medical Treatment To Political Prisoners

Burma: Junta Denying Medical Treatment To Political Prisoners

Press Release: Terry Evans

6 December 2009

The military junta in Burma is systematically denying medical treatment to political prisoners.

The health of two icons of the democratic movement in Burma, Min Ko Naing and U Gambira, has steadily deteriorated over the past month. The plight of the leader of the 88 Generation Students' group and the prominent monk highlights the plight of at least 130 political prisoners who are in bad health, and are not receiving the treatment they desperately need.

There are a total of 2,173 political prisoners in Burma.

These include:

CATEGORY NUMBER
Monks 251
Members of Parliament 12
Students 284
Women 179
NLD members 433
Members of the Human Rights Defenders and Promoters network 34
Ethnic nationalities 206
Cyclone Nargis volunteers 30
Teachers 26
Media activists 43
Lawyers 12
In poor health 130

Since the protests in August 2007 which lead to September's Saffron Revolution, a total of 1,176 activists have been arrested and are still in detention. Once in prison, democracy activists face horrific torture, including electric shocks, rape, iron rods rubbed on their shins until the flesh rubs off, severe beatings and solitary confinement. Many prisoners are kept in their cells 24 hours a day, given inadequate food and are in poor health.

ENDS

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