Myanmar’s ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) is worried about jailed State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s health as the junta deprives her of medical care.
A statement on Thursday expressed particular concern that the party leader is not receiving adequate medical care and the junta is not providing healthy food nor sufficient comfort to keep her alive.
“If her health is impaired and her life endangered, the junta is solely responsible,” said the NLD.
At 78, her mental and physical health needs special attention, the statement said.
The junta reportedly released her from solitary confinement in Naypyitaw Prison for house arrest in July. Later she was sent back to prison.
The Nobel Laureate was unwell recently, suffering from serious toothache and was unable to eat, along with vomiting and dizziness.
VOA Burmese reported that her request to see her dentist was denied by the prison authorities but she received some medication.
Her son Kim Aris (in Burmese Htein Linn) recently told the media he worried about his mother’s health after learning that she has not been provided with proper healthcare.
Kin told Reuters: “She is not as robust as she once was. If she is unable to eat, then things are not looking very hopeful.”
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to 33 years in prison for several offensives during closed regime trials. She was seized on February 1, 2021, during the coup against her elected government. She denied all the charges. The regime cut six years from her sentence as part of a general amnesty in early August.
The NLD said the junta is detaining her in secret places without giving her any of the rights of a political prisoner.
The party requested international organizations, including the United Nations and ASEAN, and revolutionary forces push for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.
Daw Aung San Suu Kyi took over the NLD in 1988 and won a landslide victory in the 1990 general election that was subsequently annulled by the then-junta.
The NLD later won crushing victories over military-backed parties in elections in 2015 and 2020.
Since the 2021 coup, 4,075 people have been killed and another 24,765, including NLD members, government leaders and anti-military protesters, have been detained by the junta, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners that monitors the arrests and deaths reported on Wednesday.
