Political prisoners in Myitkyina get an extra three and a half years behind bars for prison riot

Junta authorities have added three and a half years to the sentences of 13 political prisoners in Myitkyina Prison following a deadly crackdown on unrest, according to an advocacy group. In a statement released on Monday, the Political Prisoners’ Network-Myanmar (PPN-M) said the 13 prisoners have all been held in solitary confinement since violence erupted inside the prison last month. “They have been held in solitary since April 19 and were only allowed to shower after spending a month alone in their cells,” Thaik Tun Oo, a member of PPN-M’s central executive committee, told Myanmar Now. This came a day after prison officers killed at least five prisoners and injured several others when they used extreme force to suppress a riot, according to PPN-M. The prisoners being held in solitary confinement were sentenced to an additional three and a half years behind bars for “destruction of public property” on April 29, the group said in its statement. Two of the 13 prisoners—Aung Kyaw Zin and Arkar Soe San—were already serving seven-year sentences on terrorism charges related to their anti-junta resistance activities. The others are also believed to have been involved in armed opposition to the regime. In addition to being forced to remain inside dark, poorly ventilated cells for prolonged periods of time, prisoners placed in solitary confinement are also shackled and routinely beaten, according to former political prisoners. Earlier this year, PPN-M released a statement claiming that some detainees in Sagaing Region’s Kalay Prison had been held in solitary confinement for more than 700 days. “The prisoners had their chains removed and were sent back to their respective wards shortly after we issued the statement,” said Thaik Tun Oo. All prison visits have been suspended at Myitkyina Prison since last month and additional security measures have also been taken, including a heavier police presence and the closure of roads leading to the prison, according to an inside source. “I don’t know if the increased security means they are going to transfer some prisoners to other prisons. We still don’t have any detailed information,” said the source. A number of prison officials, including head warden Kyaw Myint Sein, junior warden Kyaw Min Oo, and prison doctor Tun Tun Aung, were questioned in court regarding the April 18 riot, but it was unclear if any disciplinary action was taken against them. According to the most recent figures compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, at least 20,479 anti-coup activists remain in junta captivity since the military seized power in February 2021.

Political prisoners in Myitkyina get an extra three and a half years behind bars for prison riot

The 13 prisoners have been held in solitary confinement since they were targeted in a crackdown on unrest more than a month ago

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