Confidante Of Myanmar's Suu Kyi Dies After Contracting Covid In Junta Jail
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published July 20, 2021 | 03:11 PM
A confidante of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and stalwart democracy campaigner died Tuesday after becoming infected with Covid-19 in prison, authorities sai
Yangon, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Jul, 2021 ) :A confidante of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and stalwart democracy campaigner died Tuesday after becoming infected with Covid-19 in prison, authorities said.
Nyan Win, a veteran senior member and former spokesperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party -- led by Suu Kyi -- was 78.
He had been arrested after the February 1 coup removed the NLD from power and was held in Yangon's notorious Insein prison on charges of sedition.
"U Nyan Win was found with Covid symptoms on July 11 and transferred to Yangon General Hospital... to get treatment," said Zaw Min Tun, spokesman of the State Administration Council -- as the junta calls itself.
"He died this morning at 9 am in the hospital." Nyan Win had underlying conditions of hypertension and diabetes, he added.
A veteran politician who worked on human rights issues, Nyan Win was the sole person allowed to meet with Suu Kyi during the previous junta regime when she was held under intermittent house arrest for 15 years.
He served as a conduit for the Nobel laureate while she was imprisoned, passing on her messages from an isolated Burma -- as Myanmar was formerly known as -- to the outside world and her supporters.
"We have relied on him so much. I am so sad to have lost him," lawyer Khin Maung Zaw, who is part of Suu Kyi's legal team, told AFP.
"But we will transform our sorrow into our strength to move forward." Myanmar -- which has been in turmoil since the coup -- is now buckling under a surge of Covid-19 cases.
Hospitals across the country are suffering from a lack of medical equipment, beds, oxygen and doctors.
Myanmar's prisons are also full, due to the junta's crackdown on dissidents, activists and NLD politicians -- raising concerns of a fatal outbreak behind bars.
Spokesman Zaw Min Tun said 375 people in prisons across the country have tested positive for Covid-19. About 200 of them are in hospitals, including senior NLD member Han Thar Myint who is currently in intensive care.
American journalist Danny Fenster is also being held at Insein after he was detained while trying to leave Myanmar in May.
State-run media said that 1.6 million people have been vaccinated across the country -- about two percent of the population.
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 18 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 18 April 2024
Saka and Odegaard start for Arsenal, Guerreiro in Bayern midfield
Qatar PM says re-evaluating Israel-Hamas mediation role
Govt spokesperson terms allegations of PTI's Marwat against Saudi Arabia 'heinou ..
Minister appreciate UAE’s support for Pakistan economic challenges
Manchester City v Real Madrid Champions League starting line-ups
MIGA's support Pakistan in attracting foreign investments: Federal Minister for ..
Walker returns to captain Man City for Real Madrid clash
Action taken against price list violations in Khanewal district
DC chairs review meeting of DEG
Turkey accuses Israel's Netanyahu of using war 'to stay in power'
More Stories From World
-
Trump due back in court as jury takes shape
17 minutes ago -
Indonesia airport near volcano closed after eruptions: ministry
27 minutes ago -
'Human-induced' climate change behind deadly Sahel heatwave: study
27 minutes ago -
Trump meets with Polish president in New York
28 minutes ago -
Karsten Warholm: from local street race to world record
37 minutes ago -
Russian missile barrage on Ukraine city kills 17
38 minutes ago
-
Arsenal paid for 'big mistake' in Bayern defeat: Arteta
47 minutes ago -
Biden seeks steel tariffs on 'cheating' China
47 minutes ago -
At IMF, Brazil and France renew push for 'fairer' international taxation
57 minutes ago -
US to reimpose oil sanctions on Venezuela
58 minutes ago -
US Senate rejects bid to oust homeland security chief
1 hour ago -
EU weighs response to Russian 'interference' in election runup
1 hour ago