Su Su Nway in solitary
by Edith Mirante | August 5, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Su Su Nway is known as one of Burma's bravest activists. Her civil disobedience in 2007 is shown in the film "Burma VJ." Imprisoned, she still defies the regime with a song.
August 4, Irrawaddy
Su Su Nway put in solitary – Lawi Weng
A prominent Burmese labor rights activist, Su Su Nway, was placed in
solitary confinement for three days after participating in a ceremony to
mark the 62nd anniversary of Martyrs’ Day on June 19 in Kalay Prison, in
Sagaing Division, according to her sister.
Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, her sister, Htay Htay Kyi, said,
“She was put in solitary confinement because she stood up and sang an
independence anthem composed by Min Ko Naing to mark Martyrs’ Day.”
Htay Htay Kyi said she visited her sister on July 21 when she delivered
medicine to Su Su Nway who said she had been denied medical care by the
prison authorities.
Su Su Nway, 37, suffers from hypertension and heart disease.
In 2006, she won the John Humphrey Freedom Award for promoting human rights.
She was arrested together with two colleagues after they pasted
anti-government posters on a billboard in downtown Rangoon during the
monk-led uprising of 2007. She was sentenced to 12 and a half years in
prison.
Su Su Nway is among other 2,100 political prisoners who are currently
being detained by the Burmese military authorities.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July called on the Burmese junta to
release all political prisoners before the national elections in 2010.
Burmese permanent representative at the UN, Than Swe reportedly told Ban
that Burma will release prisoners before the election; however, he did not
specify if political dissidents would be among the prisoners released.
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Comments
Burmese military government
Dear Edith,
It seems like Su Su Nway is in danger, but it will be very difficult for her to be released. The Burmese military government is unforgiving and won't listen to outside sources.
I can relate to Su Su Nway in a way. When I was volunteering in Western Thailand, on the border with Burma, I was giving free eye care to refugees. Some officials from the Burmese government entered the clinic and demanded we give them health care. They could afford to see an ophthalmologist in the city, but they were just spying on us and checking on our project. The project was kicked out of the area after I left, as was Doctors Without Borders.
Hopefully the government will release Su Su Nway before the election.
Thanks for telling us about the news.
Maria