OMCT is seriously concerned about the poor health condition of Mr. Min Ko Naing, a democracy activist and leader of the 88 Generation Students Group, as a result of harsh conditions of detention

Case MMR 211210Healthconcern/ Fear for the safety TheInternational Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Myanmar/ Burma. Brief description of thesituation The International Secretariatof OMCT has been informed by a reliable source and Antenna International, a memberorganisation of OMCT SOS-Torture Network, about the poor health condition ofMr. Min Ko Naing[1],a democracy activist and leader of the 88 Generation Students Group[2],as a result of harsh conditions of detention in Kengtung prison, where he isserving a 65-year prison sentence. According to theinformation received, Mr. Min Ko Naing is suffering from osteoporosis, adisease weakening the bones that is exacerbated by poor diet, lack of exercise(he is allegedly only allowed one hour a day for walking) and lack of propermedical care. Furthermore, Kengtung prison, which is located in Shan State reportedlyone of the coldest places in the country, is cold and damp. OMCT recalls thatMr. Min Ko Naing has previously suffered from a serious eye infection andhypertension while in prison[3]. OMCT has also beeninformed that Mr. Min Ko Naing is only allowed to meet with family members onetime every three months. Mr. Min Ko Naing was arrestedon 21 August 2007 along with othermembers of the 88 Generation Students Group by members of the Police Special Branch subsequent to peaceful protests against fuelhikes[4].On 11 November 2008, he was sentenced to 65 years in prison by a special courtheld inside Ma-Ubin prison following an unfair trial and later transferred toKengtung prison, 700 miles North of Rangoon. OMCT is also gravely concerned about thehealth condition of Ms. Tate Naing, aka Nilar Thein, anothermember of the 88 Generation Student group sentenced to 65 years imprisonment and whois reportedly suffering from peptic ulcer. Ms. Tate Naing is being detained in Thayetprison in Magwe Division. The International Secretariat of OMCT expressesits deepest concern about Mr. Min Ko Naing’s and Ms. Tate Naing’s, aka Nilar Thein, healthconditions, and urges the competent authorities to grant them immediate accessto independent medical doctors and to guarantee that they receiveadequate medical care asprovided for by international human rights standards, including the UN StandardMinimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.
Action requested Please write to theauthorities in Myanmar/ Burma urging them to: i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical andpsychological integrity of Mr. Min Ko Naing and Ms. Tate Naing, aka Nilar Thein; ii. Guarantee unconditional and regular access to theirrespective lawyers and families, as well as guarantee that they are promptlyexamined by independent medical doctors and receive adequate medical care inaccordance with, inter alia, the UNStandard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; iii. Release Mr. Min Ko Naing and Ms. Tate Naing, akaNilar Thein, immediately and unconditionally; iv. Ensure the respect of human rights and fundamentalfreedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws andinternational human rights standards. Addresses

• Minister for Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, No. 10 Naypyidaw, Myanmar; Tel: +95 67 412 040/ 069/ 072; Fax: +95 67 412 016/ 439; E-mail: ddg.gad@gad.gov.mm
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nyan Win, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bldg. (19), Naypyitaw, Myanmar
• Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General, 101 Pansodan Street, Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar, Fax: + 95 1 371 028/ 282 449 / 282 990
• Permanent Mission of Myanmar to the United Nations in Geneva, 47 avenue Blanc, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, Tel: + 41 22 906 98 70; Fax: + 41 22 732 89 19; Email: mission.myanmar@ties.itu.int

Please also write to the diplomaticrepresentations of Burma/Myanmar in your respective country. ***Geneva, 21 December 2010. Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quotingthe code of this appeal in your reply.
[1] See OMCT urgent appeal MMR 191108 and Press Release “Noproper medical care for jailed leading democracy activist” issued on 22 April 2008. [2] Allmembers of the 88 Generation Students Group are former student leaders whoorganised in 1988 a major popular uprising in Burma, which the military regimeresponded to by killing up to 10,000 students and activists throughout thecountry. They spent over 15 years in prison after suffering severe torture andwere released in 2004.[3] See abovementioned OMCT urgentappeal and press release.[4] The arrestsfollowed a peaceful march that took place on 19 August 2007 in order to protest against the decision, on 15 August 2007, by the regime to double theprice of diesel and petrol and quintupled the prices of compressed natural gasfor cooking and buses. See joint OMCT- FIDH press release issued on 22 August 2007.