INDIA-It has been reported that Myanmar prisoners in Imphal Prison in Manipur State, India, resumed their hunger strike on July 20, demanding their release.
Myanmar refugees in Imphal Prison previously went on a hunger strike to urge the Indian government not to hand them over to the military junta. They temporarily suspended the hunger strike on July 3 while negotiations were ongoing between the central government and Imphal Prison authorities.
Sloi Dhokhar, a leader of (India for Myanmar), said, “Yesterday, we were able to communicate with the men’s ward. It didn’t start from the men’s side, it probably started from the women’s side. However, they couldn’t contact the women’s ward either. The women’s side hasn’t received any updates yet, so we don’t have detailed information. The prison authorities said they are waiting for a decision from the central government regarding those in Manipur Jail. They said they were trying to release them as soon as possible.”
According to local news reports, prison authorities said the prisoners could only be sent back to Myanmar after the Myanmar embassy verifies their identities and provides relevant documentation.
Myanmar refugees in Manipur are requesting the state government not to hand them over to the current military junta but to release them back to Moreh, where they were originally detained.
Currently, there are a total of 159 male and female Myanmar refugees detained in Manipur State. On June 11, 38 Myanmar refugees were transferred from Imphal Prison to Myanmar.
