One of seven hunger strikers, Mr. Khin Zaw, Hospitalized
At 98th hour of Indefinite Hunger Strike Campaign,
U Khin Zaw, 52, father of four was hospitalized, becoming the first casualty of the campaign.
U Khin Zaw, organizer of National League for Democracy South West delta of Mandalay, was with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at the time of Depeyin Massacre. He fortunately escaped from premeditated and violent attack on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her entourage by the military regime’s thugs. He fled Burma soon afterward and testified
before the United States congress regarding his experience of the massacre.
He became a political refugee in the United States and he actively continued to involve in Burma’s revolution to bring freedom and democracy to his people.
U Khin Zaw, thin and weak in physical but strong and resolute in spirit, came to New York City from Forth Wayne, Indiana to participate in Hunger Strike Campaign to demand Security Council of the United Nations to help free Burma. He said on the night before the campaign began, “I want my people to know that even though I am in the free and wealthy country where I can comfortably live a decent life, I decided not to stay quiet but I will continue to defy against inhumane military dictators of Burma until freedom and democracy flourish in my mother land.”
However, on the fifth day of the Hunger Strike Campaign at 12 noon, his iron spirit could no longer defy biological system of human body. Attempting to stand up from his lying position to go to toilet, he suddenly collapsed before he could stand up, and went unconscious. Dr. Thaung Htun rushed to the campaign and measured blood pressure and pulse rate. Upon detecting some irregularities, a decision was made in consensus to call the ambulance. Paramedics arrived, woke up U Khin Zaw and asked questions: Do you know what day today is? U Khin Zaw shook his head. Do you know where you are? U Khin Zaw replied “I am protesting and I am on strike.”
He was taken to Bell View Hospital on First Avenue and 31st Street, Manhattan.
If anyone wants to offer moral support of any kind, contact media team members.
|
|