Eight Detained Students Sent to Rangoon for Medical Treatment

By Thu Zar 2 December 2015

RANGOON — Eight student protesters and their supporters detained at Thayawady Prison in Pegu Division since March have been sent to Rangoon General Hospital for medical checkups and to receive necessary treatment following a court appearance on Tuesday.

The activists who were sent to Rangoon General Hospital were Khin Maung Win, Min Min Zaw, Bo Bo Myo, Myo Htet Paing, Tezar Htut, Wai Yan Tun, Kyaw Swa Lin and Honey Oo.

“They have been sent to Rangoon Hospital because medical checkups at Thayawady Hospital are not enough,” said Khin Khin Yu, the mother of detained student Min Thway Thit, adding that the families of those detained had long asked authorities to allow more frequent medical checkups.

“Two weeks ago, we had an outside doctor give medical checkups and only then did we know that the children are suffering from around three different health problems each. It is partly because of the [police] beating,” she said.

Around 50 student activists and supporters remain behind bars for their role in nationwide protests against the controversial National Education Law earlier this year which culminated in a violent police crackdown on peaceful protesters at Letpadan, Pegu Division, on March 10.

Min Thway Thit and Htein Lin Aung who are still being detained at Thayawady Prison had throat X-rays on Monday at the doctor’s instruction, according to Khin Khin Yu. She said some students had symptoms of Tuberculosis and one student had been found to have Hepatitis C.

Last month, a group of the detained students ended a hunger strike that, at its peak, involved 15 students and supporters. The hunger strike was initiated by Aung Hmein San in Thayawady prison on October 23 in protest at the continued incarceration of political prisoners in Burma.

The students’ next court appearance in a protracted legal process is scheduled for December 8.

Translated by Thet Ko Ko.