Myanmar junta forces beat prisoners over protest at detention centre in Ayeyarwady Region

A conflict that broke out inside Pyapon Prison in Ayeyarwady Region last Sunday resulted in a large number of prisoners being savagely beaten, according to sources familiar with the situation. The incident occurred after a number of political prisoners protested the mistreatment of a fellow detainee who was being verbally abused by a prison guard, the sources said. The situation soon escalated, prompting prison staff to make an emergency call for reinforcements, according to Thaik Tun Oo, a member of the Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar. “When the riot started, there were only around 10 prison staff on duty,” he said, adding that the beatings began after the arrival of a military truck and three police vehicles at around 5pm. “Around 10 gunshots were also fired, but no one was hit,” he told Myanmar Now. The prison staff reportedly told the police and soldiers who came to provide support that the prisoners had attempted to escape. A former political prisoner who lives in Pyapon confirmed that at least a dozen shots were fired and that access to the prison was restricted until Wednesday as an investigation into the incident was being carried out. “They started allowing visits again on the morning of April 3,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. A district court judge added six months to the sentences of 18 inmates, including political prisoners Nan Lin Aung, Banyar Aung, Aung Aung Oo, Wai Yan Oo, Shine Nyi Nyi, Soe, and Thuta Zan, as well as criminal offender Aung Gyi, for their role in the unrest, according to Thaik Tun Oo. The affected prisoners were also placed in small, poorly ventilated punishment cells with very little light, he added. Around 100 prisoners were subjected to beatings, of whom at least 20 suffered serious injuries, said Thaik Tun Oo. Late last month, a political prisoner serving a seven-year sentence in Dawei Prison in Tanintharyi Region was shot dead for allegedly attempting to escape after being taken out of the prison. Win Thiha, the slain prisoner, had been in prison since the week of the February 2021 military coup that installed the current regime in power. He was charged with incitement and terrorism.

Myanmar junta forces beat prisoners over protest at detention centre in Ayeyarwady Region

Six months was also added to the sentences of those accused of playing a leading role in the unrest

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