14 political prisoners being held in Monywa Prison, Sagaing Region have gone on hunger strike and been transferred to alternative cells.

According to the Myanmar Political Prisoners’ Network, military and police intelligence officers searched the prison and confiscated food, clothes, books and other personal belongings from political prisoners on 8 September.

When the authorities refused to return what they had confiscated the 14 prisoners decided to go on hunger strike.

The hunger strikers have made three demands. The return of their confiscated belongings; the proper delivery to prisoners of all parcels sent to them from the outside; and the treatment of any health problems suffered by the hunger strikers.

The hunger strikers will continue their action until these conditions are met, according to U Thaik Tun Oo, an official from the Myanmar Political Prisoners Network. He also said that the hunger strikers are being held in solitary confinement and there has been no news of their condition.

An online campaign to express solidarity with the hunger strikers was launched on 11 September by the People's Strike Committee, Resistance soldiers, and supporters of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

14,447 people were being detained in prison in Myanmar, as of 8 September 2023, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).