GOOD MORNING MYANMAR…
December 11th, 2009
Hunger strikes by political prisoners have a long history, the most famous of which must be the several actions by Gandhi during his fight against British Imperialism for the independence of India. The tactic is risky when the authorities are likely not to give a damn, unless the light of international attention can be drawn.
From AFP:
A US citizen jailed in military-run Myanmar has gone on a hunger strike and is in deteriorating health, his overseas lawyer said Friday.
Myanmar-born Kyaw Zaw Lwin, alias Nyi Nyi Aung, stopped taking food on December 4 to demand better conditions for political prisoners, said Beth Schwanke, his Washington-based international counsel.
US diplomats have not been allowed to see him and the court cancelled a hearing that had been scheduled Friday citing health reasons, she said.
“We are extremely concerned,” she told AFP. “We’ve received reports that his health is very seriously deteriorating, but we don’t have very much information because the US embassy has been denied access.”
Dissident groups from Myanmar, earlier known as Burma, have said Nyi Nyi Aung is a democracy activist and was hoping to see his ailing mother, herself detained over political activities, when he was arrested on September 3.
A court charged him with fraud and forgery related to a Myanmar identity card and of failing to declare currency at customs.
Any American citizen risks much when they attempt to demand that a foreign despots follow the rules of civilized governance. Sadly, I do not hold out great hope for Kyaw Zaw Lwin.
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