Prisoners, some of whom were tortured, are in urgent need of medical attention in Mawlaikkalay Prison, in Sagaing Region’s Kalay Township, according to the Kalay Town Strike Committee.
Four Kalay Town Strike Committee members, Ko Than Soe Oo, Ko Myo Ko Win, Ma Hnin San, and Ma Kyan Dait Kame were tortured during their interrogations and some now have problems with their vision and hearing, according to Ko Bitepu, a member of the Kalay Town Strike Committee.
He said: “Our members were subjected to inhumane torture by interrogators, resulting in severe physical and mental injuries. During their trial on 25 September, we observed that our members are now experiencing visual and hearing impairments. They urgently need medical treatment.”
The four were arrested in April 2022 and sentenced on 25 September 2023 to 12 years in prison for breaching Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code and Sections 50 (j) and 52 (a) of the Counter Terrorism Law.
There have also been reports saying that many Mawlaikkalay Prison inmates are suffering from eye infections and seasonal flu and not receiving adequate medical treatment.
“Those who are in Mawlaikkalay Prison do not even receive proper medical treatment”, said Ko Bitepu.
Political prisoners who are transferred to Mawlaikkalay Prison from other prisons are not provided with adequate and nutritious food, according to the Kalay Strike Committee which said the prisoners’ diet mainly consists of fish paste and urgently needs to be improved.
According to the Kalay Strike Committee, domestic pressure on the junta is insufficient to ensure that political prisoners are safe and properly looked after. It is calling on the international community to collaborate with organisations helping political prisoners and provide effective assistance to address the bad treatment of prisoners.
Since the February 2021 coup, until 30 September 2023, the junta has arrested over 24,800 people, of which 19,200 are still imprisoned according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
