Authorities Isolate Suu Kyi’s Companion in Hospital

By SAW YAN NAING

A hospitalized companion of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been placed under security guard and denied visits by her family, party colleagues and friends, according to Rangoon sources.

Win Ma Ma, who has lived with her mother in Suu Kyi’s home continuously for the past five years, was admitted to Rangoon’s Muslim Dispensary and Medical Relief Society hospital on September 6 with an undisclosed illness.

She and her mother, Khin Khin Win, a member of Suu Kyi’s opposition National League for Democracy, helped with general housekeeping tasks. They lived periodically in Suu Kyi’s lakeside home since 1997, but have been permanent residents since the Nobel laureate began her current term of house arrest in September 2003. Suu Kyi has spent more than 13 of the past 19 years under house arrest.

Like Suu Kyi, Khin Khin Win is reportedly prohibited from leaving the property.

Her daughter’s isolation now in hospital increases concern over Suu Kyi, who is reported by some sources to be on a hunger strike. The NLD says she is refusing deliveries of food in protest at her continued detention and at the restrictions on visits by her doctor and on the movements of her companions.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win said Win Ma Ma had been sealed off from outside visitors and security guards had been posted at the hospital.

Nyan Win also expressed concern about Suu Kyi’s health and told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday: "Her safety and well-being are the responsibility of the authorities who detained her.”

The US State Department said on Tuesday the US and the international community were also concerned about Suu Kyi’s welfare. Her isolation by the regime made it impossible to check on reports that she is on a hunger strike, a State Department spokesman said.

The State Department renewed its call for the release of Suu Kyi and other political prisoners and for the start of a genuine, time-bound dialogue with the democratic movement and ethnic minority leaders.

In Japan, a group of Burmese activists began a 72-hour hunger strike on Monday in front of the UN office in Tokyo, demanding the release of Suu Kyi and for the UN and Japan to take action on Burma.

Than Swe, spokesman for the Joint Action Committee of the Burmese Community in Japan, said Suu Kyi’s wellbeing was important for the future of Burma.

“Without her role, change doesn’t come easily,” he said. “So, her health is very important for the future of Burma. The junta must officially report about her health.”