A man was arrested for taking photos of the Insein Prison gate when prisoners were due to be released as part of an amnesty, at about 10:00 am on 17 November.

On 16 November the junta had announced that it would release some prisoners the next day, as part of a prisoner amnesty to commemorate Myanmar National Day on 17 November.

Because of this announcement, many prisoners’ family members gathered at the gates of Insein Prison from 7:00 am in the hope that their relatives would be among the released prisoners.

According to locals, prison and police officers prohibited people from taking pictures of the prison or surrounding area.

After the man was arrested and taken away a witness said: “A man who took a picture of the prison’s entrance gates with his phone was taken away by about five junta soldiers.”

According to local media outlets the man was released about an hour later after junta soldiers checked his phone.

Another witness said: “Soldiers inside the prison came and asked the man to show them his phone. The junta then took him away in a military vehicle. I have just found out that he has been released. People are now afraid to take photos of Insein Prison with their cameras following this incident.”

The man’s identity is still currently unknown.

Following the February 2021 coup junta troops have arrested many photographers and journalists who were trying to document their human rights abuse