The month of October has brought a lot of attention to political prisoners in Burma. Another political prisoner, Maung San, has died,
After being injected by a paramedic in the prison for his gastric pain, he died within minutes. He was not allowed to be treated by a qualified doctor before he died. Usually in the prisons in Burma, unqualified and poorly trained paramedics were appointed treat the prisoners.
Maung San was serving three years, which for some can be a light sentence for having contact political organizations.
Nyunt Yin, who was involved in the 88 uprising and was sentenced to life recently passed in Insein.
The death of Thet Win Aung brought worldwide attention to the situation in Burma, which sparked outrage from Australia, Amnesty International, and the U.S.,
Democracy activist Ko Thet Win Aung, 34, had been imprisoned since 1998 for organizing peaceful student demonstrations and was serving a 59-year prison sentence.Relatives and the London-based rights group Amnesty International said on Tuesday Thet Win Aung died in Mandalay Prison where he had been tortured and suffered from malaria.
He was a brother of Ko Pyone Cho, a prominent student leader of a 1988 pro-democracy uprising in which several thousand people were killed. Ko Pyone Cho was among six pro-democracy activists arrested in September.
Groups like AAPP lost the battle to secure his release before his deteriorating health became more serious. Aung Zaw Latt also died due to lack of proper health care. Even former Burma military officers are being refused life saving health care.
Recent events have helped cause an uprising from youth in Burma, some wrote a letter to the chairman of the SPDC, demanding the release of prisoners, there was a greatly covered signature campaign, and recently a multi-religious prayer campaign which at shock to no one has led to harassment.
The treatment of those in Burma prisons is about what you what expect from an illegitimate and brutal military regime. There are reports that there is virtually no health care for even the most simple illness' and it is no surprise to hear that more prisoners are dying of AIDS.
According to the staff, at least 40 prisoners have died since early this year. When DVB contacted a doctor on duty at the prison for comments, he/she confirmed that the report is correct. The same doctor said that the situation has become worse since the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) members were barred from visiting prisons at the end of last year. Around two prisoners a day on average have died from illnesses and many of the surviving ones are also suffering from tuberculosis and severe malnutrition.
Ever since Global Fund left Burma a year ago, less and less details on the AIDS epidemic in Burma has been available. A recent State Dept. report (pdf) states Burma has one the most serious AIDS problems in Aisa.
