NGO expresses concern over political prisoners in Myanmar

17 January 2021
NGO expresses concern over political prisoners in Myanmar
An aerial view of Insein prison in Yangon. Photo: Nyein Chan Naing/EPA

Myanmar has a new government, due to shortly take up their seat, but 601 people in the country are oppressed due to political activity, according to the latest report by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

As the AAPP releases its latest report, recent controversy has surrounded the definition of a political prisoner.

The AAPP says a total of 601 are oppressed in Myanmar due to political activity, including 42 political prisoners serving sentences; 196 awaiting trial inside prison; and 363 awaiting trial outside prison.

In December 2020, there were 6 arrests, 7 charges, 7 releases (on bail), 3 sentences, 2 political prisoners are in bad health, 28 arrested by EAOs, and 4 releases by EAOs.

Recently questions were raised over those jailed for political reasons.

Disputes over who is and who is not a political prisoner in Myanmar will be solved only if a more comprehensive definition of the term can be established, said Take Naing, secretary of the Thailand- based AAPP (AAPP-Burma) in a statement.

“There are even several former political prisoners in our ruling government and in the parliament, including the State Counselor [Aung San Suu Kyi]. That’s why we are demanding the release of an official definition of ‘political prisoners,’” Take Naing said.

“As long as there is no official definition [of this term], there will be disputes, since many different organizations have their own definitions, while the government sticks to its own,” he said.