The Political Prisoners Network- Myanmar has expressed concern about the limited number of items allowed to be sent by visitors to inmates in various prisons across Myanmar, including Myitkyina Prison, which denies prisoners sufficient food.
U Thaik Tun Oo, a member of the steering committee of the afore-mentioned network, informed the Myitkyina News Journal that the food being sent to prisoners has been significantly reduced and limited, creating hardship for prisoners due to the minimal quantity they receive.
U Thaik Tun Oo stated, “I’ve learned that numerous prisons have recently issued directives. In accordance with these instructions, inmates will be restricted to possessing 7 coffee packets, 6 noodle packets, 20 kyattha of fried paste, 50 kyattha of curry, one variety of snack, and one type of fruit. Anything in excess will be returned to their families.”
Those who assist visiting political prisoners have reported a substantial increase in the oppression of these prisoners within prisons, following the appointment of former general Myo Swe as the Director General of the Prison Department by the Military Council.
The Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar declared on September 24 that the limited items allowed for visitors to send to inmates in prisons not only oppress the prisoners but also to inflict mental and physical hardships upon their family members.
It has been reported that prisoners in these facilities receive only four portions of meat over the course of 14 meals in a week. To sustain themselves on days when they lack food, they heavily rely on items sent by their families.
A former political detainee residing in Yangon recounted, “In the past, we were allowed to send items in a plastic bag measuring 14″x28″. Up until August, it was acceptable to include a packet of coffee milk and one or two packets of yum yum instant noodles,” during an interview with Myitkyina News Journal.
U Thaik Tun Oo asserts that the Military Council is intentionally imposing increased mental oppression on political prisoners, while simultaneously attempting to exert control over the family members of these prisoners.
Based on a recent on-the-ground list conducted by the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar as of September 24, several prisons have been subjected to restrictions. These prisons include Insein Prison (Yangon), Obo Prison (Mandalay), Thayarwaddy Prison (Bago), Daik-U Prison (Bago), Hpa-An Prison (Karen), Pathein Prison (Ayeyarwady), Pyapon Prison (Ayeyarwady), Hinthada Prison (Ayeyarwady), Myaungmya Prison (Ayeyarwady), and Maubin Prison (Ayeyarwady).
Similarly, restrictions have been observed in several other prisons, including Myingyan Prison (Mandalay), Monywa Prison (Sagaing), Magway Prison (Magway), Pakokku Prison (Magway), Thayet Prison (Magway), Pyay Prison (Bago), Paungde Prison (Bago), Nyaungshwe Prison (Shan), Myeik Prison (Tanintharyi), Dawei Prison (Tanintharyi), Bago Prison (Bago), Myitkyina Prison (Kachin), Sittwe Prison (Rakhine), and Kyaikmaraw Prison (Mon).
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