Burma Urges To Release Sick Prisone

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The Associated Press  

BANGKOK, <A HREF="aol://4344:30.GR_Thai.5262329.542489543">Thailand</A> (AP)
- Amnesty International is urging Burma's military government to release
three ailing political prisoners, who have been transferred to a hospital for
medical treatment. 

Burma's prisons are crowded and inmates suffer from poor diet, sanitation and
health care, human rights groups say. Unhealthy conditions and delayed
medical care allegedly have led to the deaths of political prisoners in the
past. 

The London-based human rights group said Win Tin, Cho Aung Than and Aung Khin
Sint, all members of the pro-democracy party led by Nobel Peace Prize
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, should ``not be returned to prison under any
circumstances.'' 

Cho and Win Tin both have heart conditions, Amnesty said. 

A government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Aung Khin
Sint has high blood pressure, a weak heart and diabetes. The official said
Cho had high blood pressure but denied that his condition was serious. 

The three men, all in their 60s, have recently been transferred from prison
to a Rangoon hospital. 

In addition, Suu Kyi's cousin, Aye Win, who had been held since May 1996
without trial, is also receiving heart treatment at the hospital, members of
Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy said. 

Amnesty International estimated that Burma's political prisoners number more
than 1,000. Many are from Suu Kyi's party. 

Burma's military government succeeded an earlier military regime in 1988,
suppressing pro-democracy demonstrations by killing thousands of protesters. 

Suu Kyi received the Nobel in 1991 for her peaceful efforts to bring
democracy to Burma. 

AP-NY-10-11-97 1337EDT