
Political prisoners inside Yangon’s Insein Prison commemorated the 78th birthday of detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday by holding discussions on Myanmar’s deteriorating political situation, according to sources.
The gatherings, which were limited to groups of five, also involved prayers for Suu Kyi’s well-being as she marked her birthday behind bars.
“The meetings weren’t held in a single ward. Five people from each ward discussed the political situation and told the other inmates about the military council’s cruelty,” said a woman with close connections to political detainees in the prison.
It was unclear when the event was held, but according to the woman, the prisoners were initially permitted by prison authorities to hold a “talk” on Sunday, the day before Suu Kyi’s birthday.

However, it seems that the idea of forming into groups of five was conceived as a way to avoid punishment, as larger gatherings are not allowed and are usually broken up by force, often with harsh beatings.
Some of the prisoners also wrote letters expressing their admiration for Suu Kyi, who has been sentenced to a total of 33 years in prison on 19 charges since her National League for Democracy government was ousted in February 2021.
She is currently being held inside a prison compound in Naypyitaw, where she has been since her arrest on the morning of the coup.
“I have begun to understand Amay [Mother] Suu better since I was incarcerated,” wrote one prisoner. “I can appreciate her sacrifices even more now.”
Some prisoners also wrote of worsening conditions inside the prison and their conflicted feelings as the struggle to end military rule in Myanmar continues.
“I often find myself wondering if I should just give up on life, but I still have faith in the revolution,” said one.
The prisoners also addressed some of their messages to the publicly-mandated National Unity Government, which they urged to act in accordance with the values of the revolution, which aims to establish accountable governance after decades of brutal dictatorship.
Resistance groups around the country encouraged Suu Kyi supporters to wear flowers on Monday as a show of solidarity with the imprisoned pro-democracy leader.
“We just want to show that we are still fighting back by wearing flowers, and that it’s all we need to drive out the bloodthirsty dictators,” said an officer of the General Strike Coordination Body, which is made up of strike committees all over the country.
In Kalay, Sagaing Region, at least 40 women were taken into custody on Monday on suspicion of participating in the “flower strike.”