November 2011 has been a significant month in many areas. The Special Rapporteur, Quintana has called for prison transparency and an independent body, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to investigate prison conditions. This is in light of a second hunger strike by Insein prisoners currently in prison hospital who are demanding a much-needed overhaul of the prison healthcare system. Meanwhile a law has been passed by the regime in which public protest is permitted. The specific conditions under which a protest can occur are many, restricting any true sense of freedom to protest. The breaking up of a recent farmer’s protest highlights the constraints that potential demonstrators endure. The actions of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) have also been put to the test. Although the call for the release of prisoners, including those who committed political acts, was publicly made by the MNHRC, this has not been heeded by the regime in the month of November, and there has yet to be any indication whether the commission is truly and independently committed to investigating the continuing human rights abuses of the regime.

The active diplomacy the regime has pursued has paid certain dividends for the regime as these reforms have been acknowledged with a cautious note of optimism by most in the international community, reflected in a series of high profile visits being announced and the awarding of the 2014 ASEAN chair. The word cautious is vital here as genuine reform has yet to be seen. Political prisoners languish in Burmese jails and reports of physical and mental torture, paltry healthcare access and terrible living conditions continue to reach AAPP. An expected release was delayed this month too, dashing the hopes of families who were optimistic of seeing their loved ones again. Even though positive noises have emanated from the regime, the official position remains the same, with Thein Sein categorically denying the existence of political prisoners, referring to them as criminals.

Torture and Treatment of prisoners and their families

The treatment of prisoners and the level of access available for their families remains a grave concern. It is also of concern that the standard and accessibility of healthcare in prison hospitals is extremely poor and those who need treatment are being denied external healthcare. This is hardly surprising given the lack of spending on healthcare infrastructure by the regime. Last year it was revealed that there are 109 doctors for the entire prison population, equating to around one doctor per eight thousand inmates while only thirty two of these doctors are said to be fully trained. In an interview, a recently released political prisoner, Ashin Kawvida, a monk, described the terrible conditions that political prisoners have to endure. Physical and mental torture is common while criminal prisoners often bribe their way into better treatment, he said. Family visits, a basic prisoner right enshrined in domestic regulation, can be denied at will by the prison officer. Other former prisoners Ko Kyi Lin and Su Su Nway concurred, citing isolation and little or no access to a doctor as standard treatment for political prisoners.

While adequate healthcare is not provided, it is also the case that political prisoners are deliberately made ill. Ko Pho Phyu, a lawyer arrested for leading a farmer’s protest in Rangoon was given a foul tasting liquid to drink during interrogation instead of water. The liquid made him dizzy and made breathing difficult. He also claims to have been mentally tortured. Similarly, DVB reporter Sithu Zeya’s mother explained how her son was tortured under interrogation and denied food for two days before revealing his father as another DVB reporter.

Another shocking case is of student activist Tin Tun Aung , a twenty three year old prisoner sent to the frontlines of battle to work as a porter. In an interview with RFA he revealed how he was effectively used as a human shield, losing a leg when stepping on a landmine. The compensation he received for this? A mere 6,040 kyats, equivalent to US $6. It is unknown how many more are forced to work as porters on the frontline of the regime’s brutal crackdown on ethnic insurgents but for Tin Tun Aung, his treatment was deplorable.

Hunger strikes that started at the end of October continued into this month. The 15 strikers were demanding the same rights as other prisoners, a one third reduction in sentence for good behavior. After one day they were denied drinking water and transferred to punishment cells known as dog cells without sleeping mats. Family access was denied although parcels were allowed to be left. The hunger strike finished on the 7th of November with two strikers hospitalized. Their families were banned from visiting for one month. Their demands were not met, and thus continue to endure longer sentences as they are political prisoners. Stemming from this, six political prisoners from Insein prison hospital initiated a second hunger strike on November 10 demanding adequate healthcare in prison and the same rights as other prisoners with regards to sentence reduction. Their current status is unclear.

From reports from released prisoners and families of current political prisoners it is evident that physical and mental torture, denial of access to healthcare, deliberate efforts to immobilize prisoners and forced labor are ongoing. An update on the health of individual cases can be found below.


Tate Naing (Secretary)     +66 (0) 81 287 8751
Zaw Htun (EC Member)    +66 (0) 89 952 7340

--Thanks N Regards,
Assistant Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Office Ph: 66(၀)55-545495
Web: http://www.aappb.org, http://www.fbppn.net

"There can be no national reconciliation in Burma, as long as there are
political prisoners."