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FORMER home: Nurse Thant Tun was born in Burma but fled after a political uprising 20 years ago
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Nurse fears uprising in Burma
14/ 5/2008
A NURSE from Stalybridge who escaped Burma’s military regime fears there could be an uprising against the government in the cyclone-devastated nation.
Campaigner Thant Tun fears the situation in Burma, where 22,000 people have already been confirmed dead in the storms, could get even worse.
Thant, who works at Manchester Royal Infirmary, fled Burma as a student almost 20 years ago after she was involved in the uprising of 1988 when the army leadership shot and arrested thousands of demonstrators for protesting against the undemocratic rule.
Thant, who is still waiting to hear from relatives in disaster-struck Rangoon, said: "Even before the disaster people were barely able to afford a cup of tea. I fear the worse is still to come. There is nothing in place to deal with even a small-scale disaster and the government cannot be trusted to get aid where it is needed.
"The military do not show people in or outside the country the true picture. We are yet to see the many who will be hit with sickness and starvation and the government will have to put politics aside if the Burmese are to get the care they need. The biggest fear is that history will repeat itself 20 years on from 1988 — the state is at rock bottom now and those who can find the strength will feel they have nothing to lose."
Thant gave up her Burmese passport and become involved in campaign work in Britain, placing her in danger if she ever returned to the country
She brought her parents to Britain as her dependants three years ago following her only trip back to Burma, when she had to sign papers declaring she would not become politically involved.
She said: "They were living so badly — my father’s monthly pension could not even buy breakfast."
For information on Thant’s campaign work visit prayforfreedomburma.com
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