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Junta offers eye treatment for free
Authorities in northern Shan State are giving eye check and treatment for free in exchange for their support for the charter in the upcoming referendum, according to residents of Namkham, on the Sino-Burma border.
By Hawkeye/ Lieng
Lern
On 21 April 2008, officials from Namkham Township Peace and
Development Council (TPDC) held a meeting at TPDC office. 30 headmen were in
attendance.
At the meeting, local authorities ordered the headmen to
disseminate the information to the people that anyone with eye problem would be
treated free of charge for 4 days from 23-26 April from 9:00 to 15:00 at the
city hall in Lashio Township.
On 23 April 2008, people who wanted to
have their eyes treated were listed and transported to Lashio in cars hired by
the local authority, said the source.
There were over 2,000 people who
went to have their eyes treated from different townships such as Tangyan,
Kyaukme, Hsipaw, Kutkai, Namkham and Muse.
"Only around 80 people were
treated," said a local who wishes to be anonymous. "Our people from Namkham were
over 200, but only 3 people had a chance to get checked and treated."
Some people got bored and went to private clinics, but almost all the
clinics were closed.
Making it worse, people had to spend their own
money for their travel fare when they went back home.
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