Four education activists jailed in central Burma since March have been transferred to hospital in Rangoon.
Tharawaddy court approved the decision on 8 December, the 29th court appearance for the activists arrested during a violent crackdown on an student-led protest at Letpadan, Pegu Division in March.
Detainees Min Thway Thit, Mar Naw, Mya Gyi and Htein Linn Aung were granted permission on Tuesday to receive treatment at Rangoon General Hospital, according to their lawyer Khin Khin Kyaw.
“Ko Min Thway Thit is suffering from a gastric problem and has been on a drip – he is now on the way to the hospital, as is Ko Mar Naw, who has a kidney problem and has been vomiting and passing blood in his urine,” she said.
“Ko Htein Linn Aung has an issue with his stomach and Ko Mya Gyi has displayed the warning symptoms of a stroke. They were both sent to the hospital.”
The four hospitalised on Tuesday join nine fellow education activists who have been evacuated from Tharawaddy prison after developing health complications over their nine months in jail.
Khin Khin Kyaw told DVB that two other defendants, 10th grade student Khant Aung and activist Tayzar Tun, were granted bail at the Tuesday hearing. Tayzar Tun is currently receiving treatment at the same hospital.
“The third bail applicant, Khin Maung Win, was rejected due to incomplete paperwork,” she added, and that the defence team had applied for bail for three additional defendants.
[related]
On 10 March, 127 demonstrators, including high school and university students, were arrested amid a violent police crackdown at an education reform protest in Letpadan, over 70 were later charged with offences including rioting and causing public alarm.
Eighteen of the detainees have been granted bail, the rest remain in detention at Tharawaddy prison as their trial continues.
Read more about the Letpadan protests here.
