Political organisations call for postponement of hunger strikes
Yangon - Nine political organisations issued a joint statement on November 16, urging detained students and activists to suspend their hunger strikes until the peaceful handover of the government to the winners of the November 8 election.
The statement says: "We value the good history of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, known as Ba-Ka-Tha, and believe that your demands are fair. But now people have cast their votes decisively for the country's change and are cautiously waiting for the peaceful handover of power."
"People are worried about the condition of students and activists who are on hunger strike. We would like to request all of you to delay the ongoing hunger strikes until the smooth handover of the country's power in order to reduce people's anxiety," the statement says.
The joint statement was released by nine organisations, including the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and Hanthawaddy U Win Tin Foundation.
Since October 23, Ba-Ka-Tha member Aung Hmaing Hsan has maintained a hunger strike in Thayawaddy Prison, demanding the release of political prisoners.
Fellow detained activists Ko Than Htike, Ko Mar Naw, Ko Swe Lin Tun, Ko Kyaw Swa Lin, Ko Myo Htet Paing, Ko Phyo Dana Chit Lin Thike and Ko Myo Myat San have joined the hunger strike.
Aung Hmaing Hsan, Ko Phyo Dana Chit Lin Thike and activist Ko Myo Myat San are now hospitalised.
Since November 2, Ko Tin Htut Paing, who is serving a prison sentence for protesting at the Chinese embassy, has also been on hunger strike to demand the release of political prisoners.
On November 14, Aung San Suu Kyi, chairperson of the National League for Democracy, sent executive committee member Win Htein to the Yangon General Hospital to visit the students on hunger strike. He relayed a message from the NLD leader, saying: "She takes pride in the students who are staging hunger strikes and would like to request that they stop the hunger strike so as to avoid undesirable situations during the transitional period."
On November 15, at a meeting between the president and the heads of political parties in Yangon, political party leaders called on the president to grant amnesty to the detained students and political prisoners during the remainder of his term.
The students and supporters have been detained following the crackdown on the education law demonstration on March 10.