Supporters of the Burma Campaign UK are sending an email every minute to Burmese embassies worldwide. The emails are demanding the regime allow immediate medical access to Min Ko Naing, who has an eye infection.
“In the 24 hours since we launched the campaign Burmese embassies have received an email every minute in support of Min Ko Naing,” said Mark Farmaner, Director of Burma Campaign UK. “This is a fantastic response. We are showing the regime that the world is watching.”
Min Ko Naing, a leading democracy activist, is being held in Rangoon’s notorious Insein Prison. He is suffering from a serious eye infection and may go blind because he is being denied medical treatment. It is reported that his eye condition has deteriorated to the point that he is unable to sleep or eat because of the pain the infection has caused.
Min Ko Naing has been in prison since August last year. He was arrested for leading protests in Rangoon. The protests triggered the biggest demonstrations in Burma since the 1988 uprising, but were brutally crushed by the dictatorship. We will never know how many were killed during the regime’s brutal crackdown. Today, the situation in Burma remains as severe as ever. Arrests continue and torture is routine. Political prisoners are singled out for brutal treatment, including the denial of medical treatment.
Min Ko Naing is one of the most famous student leaders from the 1988 uprising. He was arrested in 1989 and spent more than 16 years in prison. He was severely tortured and held in solitary confinement for most of his sentence. He was released in 2004 and despite constant threats and harassment by the regime, he has continued to campaign for freedom and democracy in Burma.
Campaigners can email Burmese embassies via: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/mkn_action.html
For more information contact Mark Farmaner on 020 7324 4713