Date: March 6, 2008

Immiediate Release

At the age of 70, U Than Lwin is loosing his eyes in Mandalay prison. U Than Lwin is an elected member of Burmese Parliament of the National League for Democracy Party from Maddaya township near Mandalay city. He injured his eyes during a vicious attack by an unknown assailant before his arrest in October of 2007. The Military regime and prison authorities intentionally refused to treat his injuries that could have saved his eye sight.

AAPP has learned that from U Than Lwin’s wife, Daw Khin Thi, said that an earlier intervention could have saved Than Lwin's eye sight. “The doctors said it was already about two months late to treat his eye and there was nothing they could do to help him,” Khin Thi stated.

AAPP has also learnt that U Than Lwin’s medical conditions in prison have further deteriorated to the point that he is too weak and he could not eat well because of his old age and harsh prison condition. There is serious doubt that he will survive the merciless prison environment and he may die within the next six month.

This slow murder is indicative for the immoral behavior of the Burmese Military Regime and many other of 1858 political prisoners presently incarcerated in Burma have been facing lacking of medicine and timely medical treatment.

AAPP appeals to the Human Rights Council to discuss with the Than Shwe's regime the present situation of U Than Lwin's case and demand his immediate release.

In order to get more information about his case, please read the annex. His wife gave an interview with Democratic Voice of Burma.

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About AAPP:
Whereas the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners - AAPP is dedicated to aid former Burmese political prisoners and their families in their struggle for survival and to record the present situation of all political prisoners; to collect evidence and names of the individuals who have committed human rights violations and crimes against humanity during the years of the dictatorship. For further information about human right violations in Burma please contact our web site at www.aappb.org

Back Ground:

NLD member loses sight due to lack of treatment
Mar 5, 2008 (DVB)-A detained Mandalay division National League for Democracy member has gone blind in his left eye due to lack of treatment for problems arising after an attack last year, his wife said.
U Than Lwin, an NLD member and elected member of parliament from Maddaya township, was sent to Mandalay hospital from prison on 23 February to undergo an operation on his left eye, which was severely damaged during a knuckle-duster attack by an unknown assailant in mid-2007.
But doctors at the hospital said that it was already too late for them to save his sight in that eye, and he was sent back to prison on 29 February.
Than Lwin's wife, Daw Khin Thi, said that an earlier intervention could have saved Than Lwin's sight.
"The doctors said it was already about two months late to treat his eye and there was nothing they could do to help him," Khin Thi said.
"Specialist eye doctors said all the nerves in his eye had been destroyed due to the growth of cataracts," she said.
"It has been a long time since we found out he was suffering from cataracts and needed immediate medical assistance. We requested permission for treatment from the prison authorities and government leaders in Naypyidaw, but they only approved it about two months later and it was already too late by that time."
Than Lwin was attacked in June last year by a man with a knuckle-duster, who fled into the Union Solidarity and Development Association office after the attack.
He suffered harassment from USDA members while in hospital recovering from the attack, and was arrested on 2 September, allegedly in connection with commodity price protests.
Reporting by Aye Nai

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