Myanmar NGOs believe junta transfer of 500 political prisoners aimed to ‘cause suffering’

17 August 2022
Myanmar NGOs believe junta transfer of 500 political prisoners aimed to ‘cause suffering’

Myanmar NGOs concerned with the rights of political prisoners believe the recent transfers of about 500 political prisoners to other prisons is designed to cause suffering for both the prisoners and their families.

Since July, about 500 political prisoners have been transferred to various prisons across the country, according to the data of assistance organizations for political prisoners.
 
In July, about 200 and 300 prisoners were transferred from Hpa-An and Insein Prisons respectively, and political prisoners were transferred from Monywa and Shwebo Prisons, according to the Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS).

Tun Kyi, a member of the Steering Committee of the FPPS said that the prison authorities under the Military Council are carrying out such the transfers of prisoners because they want political prisoners and their families to suffer more.

"They (the junta) want to cause the trouble to the political prisoners and their families. They want to keep political prisoners away from their families," Tun Kyi explained.

According to the FPPS, the political prisoners in Insein prison and Hpa-An prison, in Kayin state, were transferred to Thayarwaddy and Daik- U prisons in Bago region. The political prisoners in Obo prison were transferred to MyinGyan prison in Mandalay region.

Family members of some political prisoners told Mizzima that the political prisoners are further away from their families because of this transfer of prisoners and that they face more travel costs and difficulties to visit and send parcels to the respective prisons.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) announced that currently, there are a total of more than 15,000 political prisoners in prisons nationwide.

Political prisoners are targeted for torture and face human rights violations in prisons, according to the FPPS.