GRAPE VINE
A Plea for the release of Min Ko Naing in solitary
Lia Korrel
THE NATION Thursday, March 22, 2001
After Burma was admitted to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), I hoped that there would be some concrete improvements in the human rights situation, for example, the release of prisoners of conscience and improvements in prison conditions.
Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the case. I am referring in particular to the case of Min Ko Naing, a student leader and prisoner of conscience who was arrested and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, a sentence that was commuted to ten years in January 1993.
Although Min Ko Naing should have been released in March 1999 on completion of his sentence, he is still held at Sittway Prison, Rakhine State. For most of his imprisonment Min Ko Naing has been held in complete solitary confinement.
In 1993 he was visited in Insein Prision by a United States Congressman. He was said to be in poor health and appeared disoriented. In November 1994, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Burma was also allowed to visit him briefly in prison and described him as being nervous and thin. Subsequent reports on his health stated that he suffers from a nervous tremor and may have suffered emotionally as a result of his ill treatment and prolonged solitary confinement.
He is believed to suffer from a gastric ulcer. Since his prison term is over and moreover since he was imprisoned for non-violently exercising his rights of freedom of expression, as guaranteed under international law, I would ask for his immediate and unconditional release.