The Burmese junta allows NLD facility to remain open. With a technicality: the permits must be renewed from week to week. The government called for its closure due to lack of hygienic conditions. But for the leaders of the centre it was only a political move against Aung San Suu Kyi.

Yangon (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The military authorities in Myanmar say 82 patients of the centre for people with AIDS / HIV can remain there until December 1. The decision came at 7pm last night. Phyu Phyu Thin, owner of the shelter and a member of the banned opposition party National League for Democracy (NLD), said: "We were able to re-register patients, but according to this system permits must be renewed every seven days. And we do not have guarantees that they will be granted forever. "

On 24 November the Burmese Ministry of Health had ordered the evacuation of the centre, citing the lack of proper hygienic conditions as the reason. Those responsible for property claimed instead that the provision was nothing more than a political move, after a visit by Aung San Suu Kyi last week. Phyu Phyu Thin says that patients had been threatened with arrest if they refused to leave.

This "concession" seems to have come after the harsh criticism launched by the International AIDS Society (IAS), broadly carried by national media. According to data provided by IAS, about 240 thousand people, out of a population of 51 million are infected with HIV.

Vijay Nambiar, chief of staff to the UN Secretary General, will arrive in Myanmar tomorrow to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi and other political figures.

• Myanmar
• burma
• junta
• AIDS
• HIV
• patients
• centre
• NLD
• opposition
• democracy