Relatives are deeply concerned that the political prisoners detained in Kyaiksakaw Prison, located in Daik-U Township, Bago Region, have not been returned to the prison until today.
A relative of a political prisoner reported that there was a prison break at Taungoo Prison last week. Following the incident, political prisoners from various prisons were summoned to the Military Council camp in their respective municipalities to be examined and investigated.
“On May 25, several political prisoners were forcibly removed from Kyaiksakaw Prison. One of them, named Ko Thant Zin Win, died tragically after being tortured at the Pyin Pongyi Military Council camp. The authorities they claimed he died of heatstroke and refused. to return his body. 17 political prisoners have been taken and their whereabouts and well-being are unknown. They could be the targets next, after of the death of Ko Thant Zin Win. The situation is distressing and alarming,” said a relative. of a political prisoner in Kyaiksakaw Prison.
Based on accounts from individuals close to the prison, it has been reported that military council troops took political prisoners out of their dormitories in Kyaiksakaw Prison and subjected them to severe physical beatings.
“Following the news of Ko Thant Zin Win’s death, there has been an increase in the number of individuals joining the prison staff. However, it has come to light that these individuals are not employees prison staff, but military personnel. They have been instructed to wear prison employee uniforms and report to the prison. Additionally, there is a noticeable presence of soldiers stationed outside the facility, along with with several unknown faces in civilian clothes. It is advised to exercise caution and not trust these new employees,” according to a local with contacts inside the prison.
According to the prison regulations, once an inmate is admitted to the prison, he is not allowed to leave. In cases where a new examination is deemed necessary, the appropriate procedure requires obtaining an authorization from the Ministry of the Interior and carrying out the examination in the judicial offices.
The lawyer, who is a former political prisoner, stressed that if it is not feasible to carry out the examination inside the court premises, then the prisoner must be examined in the presence of prison officials.
The lawyer added: “The prison director is responsible for these actions, including beatings and torture and the death of Ko Thant Zin Win during interrogation. This is an illegal act, which constitutes a war crime and a serious violation of human rights”.
We tried to contact the prison warden by phone about the incidents related to the death of Ko Thant Zin Win during interrogation, the transport of prisoners to the military compound for questioning, the cases of unprovoked beatings in the prison and the cases of isolation. However, our calls went unanswered by the prison warden.
Residents living near the prison have reported that additional staff have been employed at the prison and security forces have been deployed in areas where people seek permission to visit inmates, as well as around the facility from prison
