An independent non-profit organization supporting political prisoners (The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) has urged an immediate and unconditional release of a leading member of the All Burma Student Federation Union, Ko Zaw Lin Tun, from prison.

In a press release Saturday, the independent non-profit organization says Ko Zaw Lin Tun is terminally ill, suffering from a number of grave health conditions, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B, heart disease and cancer.

The AAPP says that although Ko Zaw Lin Tun has been in critical condition since July, he was not hospitalized until September 1. It says that denying him appropriate medical care amounts to torture and his continued imprisonment in the notorious Insein prison makes a mockery of purported reforms made by the new Burmese government.

The group called on the relevant authorities to “show compassion for Ko Zaw Lin Tun by immediately releasing him on medical and humanitarian grounds, so he can have his loved ones by his side in this difficult time.”

Burma's new government took office at the end of March after tainted elections in November 2010. There are currently more than 2,100 political prisoners in jails across Burma, including monks, students, elected members of parliament and lawyers.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners was founded in the Thai-Burma border town of Mae Sot in March 2000 by Burmese former political prisoners living in exile.

Its aims and objectives include collecting information about political prisoners and prison conditions, giving assistance to political prisoners and their families, and aiding in the reconstruction of ex-political prisoners' lives.