Sep 9, 2008 (DVB), Veteran politicians in Burma on Monday released a statement expressing their concern about rumours that detained opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been staging a hunger strike.

In the statement, which was also addressed to SPDC leader senior general Than Shwe, the group urged Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to stop her hunger strike, citing reports that she had been refusing food deliveries for the past three weeks.

"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is a true democratic leader whose party won the elections in 1990 and she is loved and respected by the people of Burma," the statement said.

"We would like to make the point that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whatever her circumstances, needs to be both mentally and physically healthy," it went on.

"We humbly make this request to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to stop the hunger strike to show sympathy to the country and its people who have placed their hope in her."

The statement also called on the SPDC government to release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners.

Thakin Chan Htun, one of the group’s members, said releasing all political prisoners in Burma and engaging in dialogue with the opposition were the only ways to bring about democratic reform and national reconciliation in Burma.

Reporting by Nan Kham Kaew