Political prisoners at Kyaikmaraw Prison in Mon State’s Mawlamyine Town have gone on hunger strike to protest the death sentences given to 12 young students on 30 November.

A source with contacts in prison said: “I'm not sure how long the strike will last. The political prisoners have been on hunger strike since the morning of 7 December, they haven’t been eating at all.”

He estimated that there are probably over 1,000 political prisoners being held in Kyaikmaraw Prison.

Mizzima has attempted to contact the Kyaikmaraw Prison Department, but has received no response.

On 30 November a closed military tribunal sentenced seven Dagon University students to death for killing the manager of the South Dagon Township branch of the Global Treasure Bank. Four other youths were also sentenced to death that day for killing the Ward 45 Administrator in North Dagon Township.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), since the February 2021 coup 139 people have been sentenced to death and 13,060 people have been imprisoned and remain in prison. Of those sentenced to death 97 are on death row and the remaining 42 were sentenced in absent.