Aung San Suu Kyi unwell: UN and ASEAN Should Send Envoys

The Burma Campaign UK today expressed deep concern about the health of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who is being denied proper medical treatment by Burma’s military dictatorship.

Aung San Suu Kyi is reported to be suffering from dehydration and low blood pressure, and having difficulty eating. Her doctor was arrested on Thursday without explanation. Another doctor was allowed to visit her on Friday, and reportedly put her on an IV drip. He was not allowed to visit her on Saturday. It is not clear what is wrong with Aung San Suu Kyi, or what treatment she is being allowed to receive.

Since Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in 2003, the dictatorship has repeatedly stopped her having proper medical access. The United Nations negotiated an agreement that her doctor be allowed to visit her once a month, which is less than the doctor said was necessary.

The United Nations has ruled that Aung San Suu Kyi’s detention is illegal under international law, and also under Burmese law. The United Nations Security Council has also told the dictatorship that they must release Aung San Suu Kyi.

“The situation is potentially too serious for the international community to just wait and see what happens,” said Nang Seng, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “The United Nations and ASEAN should send envoys immediately, and insist on Aung San Suu Kyi being given proper medical treatment.”

The denial of medical treatment is systematically used against political prisoners in Burma.  A global signature campaign has received almost 300,000 signatures, demanding the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon make the release of Burma’s political prisoners a top priority. The petition can be signed at: http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/campaigns/political-prisoners

Today Aung San Suu Kyi will have spent a total of 13 years and 199 days in detention since she was first placed under house arrest in 1989.

For more information contact Nang Seng on 020 7324 4710

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Find out more about Aung San Suu Kyi here

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