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SAGAING DIVISION – Mr. Shin Thant, a member of the leading committee of the Monywa People’s Strike, said that the military council raided the Monywa Prison as “a multi-department special search” and confiscated the food and utensils of the prisoners, so, 14 political prisoners are on hunger strike.
“On September 8th, at around 10:00 a.m. in Monywa Prison, a multi-departmental search involving the army, police and general administration staff was conducted. The staff under the junta council took the clothes, food and coffee packages of all the prisoners in the prison. In addition to that bread, the letters and photos sent by the families were also confiscated,” said Mr. Shin Thant.
They reportedly only left two blankets and three sets of clothes for each of the political prisoners.
“The political prisoners demanded their items to be returned. The prison was taking no responsibilities. When they said that they didn’t do it, the political prisoners said that they would not leave for the court. Then at 10 o’clock in the morning, the junta council army came with a force of about 30 and threatened the political prisoners. They threatened to shoot them with a gun and forced them to leave for the court,” Mr. Shin Thant said.
Therefore, since the afternoon, 14 political prisoners in Monywa Prison have been on hunger strike, the leading committee of the Monywa People’s Strike announced.
The above committee said that other political prisoners will also oppose the food provided by the prison.
“The political prisoners are protesting. Their survival depends on the responsibility of the staff of the Department of Prison, which is a pillar of the terrorist group. The employees of the Department of Prison are responsible for their survival. I would like to request that our people always listen to the news of the comrades on hunger strike and stand with them,” said Mr. Shin Thant.
The hunger strike is still ongoing as of September 8 night and the military council team that raided has not yet returned, according to the Monywa People’s Strike Leading Committee.
“Currently, the 14 political prisoners who are on hunger strike are being held in solitary confinement in the prison and are being monitored by prison staff 24 hours a day. This hunger strike is a long-term struggle, and they say that they will carry out successive hunger strikes until their demands are met,” the Monywa People’s Strike Leading Committee announced.
Regarding the incident, the All-Myanmar Political Prisoners Network is investigating through local officials.
Prisons under the military council have been threatening the political prisoners and in addition to coercion, unlawful killings are also being committed on purpose. Mr. Thaik Tun Oo, a member of the All Myanmar Political Prisoners Network, urges the United Nations Human Rights Council, as well as the ICRC (International Red Cross), to find solutions to such violations as soon as possible.
“Currently, there are situations in which inmates are not given the full rights they should have. The current prison is like the Auschwitz detaining camp where human rights were violated,” he said.
On April 3, 2022, a riot broke out in the Monywa Prison, and the military council troops opened fire, killing one prisoner and injuring at least 5 others.