Su Su Nway in solitary

Su Su Nway is known as one of Burma's bravest activists. Her civil disobedience in 2007 is shown in the film "Burma VJ." Imprisoned, she still defies the regime with a song.

August 4, Irrawaddy
Su Su Nway put in solitary – Lawi Weng

A prominent Burmese labor rights activist, Su Su Nway, was placed in
solitary confinement for three days after participating in a ceremony to
mark the 62nd anniversary of Martyrs’ Day on June 19 in Kalay Prison, in
Sagaing Division, according to her sister.

Speaking to The Irrawaddy on Tuesday, her sister, Htay Htay Kyi, said,
“She was put in solitary confinement because she stood up and sang an
independence anthem composed by Min Ko Naing to mark Martyrs’ Day.”

Htay Htay Kyi said she visited her sister on July 21 when she delivered
medicine to Su Su Nway who said she had been denied medical care by the
prison authorities.

Su Su Nway, 37, suffers from hypertension and heart disease.

In 2006, she won the John Humphrey Freedom Award for promoting human rights.

She was arrested together with two colleagues after they pasted
anti-government posters on a billboard in downtown Rangoon during the
monk-led uprising of 2007. She was sentenced to 12 and a half years in
prison.

Su Su Nway is among other 2,100 political prisoners who are currently
being detained by the Burmese military authorities.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July called on the Burmese junta to
release all political prisoners before the national elections in 2010.

Burmese permanent representative at the UN, Than Swe reportedly told Ban
that Burma will release prisoners before the election; however, he did not
specify if political dissidents would be among the prisoners released.