The Mon Political Prisoner in Depression

Independent Mon News Agency
December 18, 2005

Nai Yekha, a Mon political prisoner who was sentenced for life imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison, has been depressed psychologically after one of his colleague died in prison from an unknown case last month.

“Now he does not eat very well in eating time. He could not sleep well. Myo Thwe (another political prisoner) has to care him all the time. He is looked like so depressed at the time,” a Myo Thwe family's member who met Myo Thwe in Insein Prison the day before yesterday told IMNA.

Myo Thwe was arrested along with Nai Yekha and both of them were sentenced for life imprisonment. Nai Yekha and Myo Thwe are the senior members of New Mon State Party (NMSP) and both of them conspired and trapped for arrest by Burmese military intelligent on July 17, 2003 with other seven people included First Eleven Sport Journal Editor Zaw Thet Htwe with an accusation of plotting to assassinate the SPDC's military leaders.

According to Myo Thwe telling to his family, Nai Yekha talked very much and his health condition was well last month before his friend died. He could eat and sleep well last month. After he felt depression, he has not been allowed for treatment in outside hospital.

On September 28, his colleague, Nai Ong Lorn died from unknown case and suffering. Nai Yekha has worried about the treatment by the prison doctor provided by the SPDC authorities especially with the medicines and injections offered by him. He is suffering from a stomach disease, drop in blood pressure and diabetes.

Prison authorities also did not allow his family to provide him with medicines and other medical supplies that they bought from the shops.

Now, only one of his colleagues Nai Myo Thwe is together with him. Ediotr Zaw Thet Thwe, Nai Min Kyi (Mon National Democratic Front leader), Shwe Marn, Than Tun were released recently by pressure of ILO and others international community.

Nai Yet Kha's also informed about his depressed health condition to NMSP leaders as he was a NMSP member while he was arrested. NMSP leaders also tried and engaged with the SPDC authorities for his release, but the SPDC reduced the punishment against him from death penalty to life imprisonment.