Mizzima

Prisoners who went on hunger strike in Monywa Prison last September are going to be prosecuted and have prison sentence reductions rescinded, according to the Monywa People’s Strike Committee.

26 prisoners have been charged with illegal associations under Article 147 of the Penal Code. Of those nine were told they would not be eligible for any sentence reductions for a year. They were Ko Wai Moe Naing, the leader of the hunger strike and Ko Phone Myint Aung, Ko Moe Kyaw Htet, Ko Nayzin Lin Htet, Ko Nay San, Ko Chan Nyein Aung, Ko Ye Yint Thu, Ko Kyaw Soe Aye, and Ko Aungthu Hein.

“We received information that the prison will take action in the next few days. As we received the information not long ago, it’s likely to happen within the next few days,” said Ko Shin Thant, a member of the Monywa People’s Strike Committee. 

He also said that five prison staff, including the prison chief, U Win Min Latt and the head warden were dismissed and six prison guard sergeants were demoted.

The junta has yet to make a statement about the affair.

On 8 September, the junta authorities conducted a special investigation at Monywa Prison and confiscated political prisoners’ food, clothing, books, and other permitted possessions. 

In response 50 prisoners went on hunger strike. Some of them experienced anemia and some fainted as a result of going on hunger strike. The prison authorities then agreed to the hunger strikers’ demands and the hunger strike was called off on 13 September. Subsequently, the authorities brought the charges against the hunger strikers.

Since the 1 February 2021 coup until 18 October 2023 over 25,300 people have been arrested across Myanmar, and of those, 19,500 are still being detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.