Burma's Anti-junta Protester Dies after Setting Himself Ablaze

A man who set himself on fire at Burma's most revered Buddhist temple to protest military rule has died of his injuries, hospital officials said Tuesday.

Kyaw Zin Naing suffered burns to more than 60 percent of his body in his March 21 protest at the Shwedagon pagoda in the city of Rangoon, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they could be punished for revealing information about a politically sensitive matter.

The 26-year-old man died April 17, they said.

Kyaw Zin Naing's protest was the first known case of self-immolation in Burma since the military took power in 1962. According to witnesses, the man shouted "Down with the military regime," before dousing himself with gasoline and setting himself ablaze.

His action came at a time of heightened political tension in Burma, which has been preparing for a referendum on a new military-backed constitution.

The junta's critics charge that the charter-a stage on the junta's so-called "roadmap to democracy"-was drafted in an undemocratic way, and that it would perpetuate military rule.

The National League for Democracy party of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has urged voters to reject the draft constitution, but long-standing restrictions on freedom of speech and harassment of pro-democracy activists have made it difficult to mount a campaign against the proposed charter.

Thousands of pilgrims were at the pagoda for a Buddhist holy day when Kyaw Zin Naing set himself alight.

The Shwedagon temple has a history of being a center for mass political gatherings, and was a focus for Buddhist monks and pro-democracy protests last September. At least 31 people were killed and thousands more were detained when the country's military rulers cracked down on the peaceful demonstrations.

Burma has had no constitution since 1988 when the current junta took power and scrapped the previous charter after violently quashing mass pro-democracy demonstrations.

Suu Kyi's party won the last general election in 1990, but the military refused to hand over power, instead stepping up its repression of dissidents.

Meanwhile the United States is condemning what it calls Burmese ruling generals' failure to provide proper medical treatment to prisoners.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey says the US has received reports that well-known pro-democracy activist Min Ko Naing has received no care for an eye infection that could cause blindness. He says the US also is worried that Suu Kyi still has not received monthly doctor visits as the junta agreed with the UN special envoy.

Casey said in a statement Tuesday that Burma should release all political prisoners. According to Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma),
there are 1,864 political prisoners in Burmese prisons.  

Associated Press 23 April 2008