24 political prisoners placed in solitary confinement inside Insein prison

At least 24 political prisoners inside Insein prison in the Yangon region have been detained with leg shackles since 5 November 2023, claimed the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM).

In a statement issued on 16 March, the forum also added that those political prisoners include  U Htin Kyaw, Ko Zaw Naing Tun, Ko Myo Min Oo, Ko Bala Gyi, Ko Ye Min Htwe, Ko Chan Myae Ko Ko, Ko Hla Oo Maung, Ko Wai Min Aung,  Ko Kyaw Thet, etc.

Citing the reason for possessing illegal substances, the  prison authorities, on 5 November last year, revealed that they  used hoods to cover the prisoners’ faces, handcuffed their hands behind  backs, subjected them to beatings, shackled their legs and put them in solitary confinement for three months.

Among the individuals currently wearing leg shackles are political prisoners aged between 20 and 60, who have been charged under section 54(a), section 52(a), section 19(f) and section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act.

Article 57 of the prison manual prohibits the authorities in using leg shackles on prisoners for more than 90 days. Similarly, article 58 specifies that the prison warden can use the leg shackles in an emergency situation only. So the current prison authorities have defied those guidelines, asserted the statement.

It also alleged that the prison authorities continue committing human rights violations.

Article 4 of the declaration of human rights has stated that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude, while article 5 specifies that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

But all detainees, including the political prisoners, have been deprived of such protections inside the Yangon jail.

The PPNM  statement asserted that the act of shackling the prisoners’ legs and forcing them into labour reflected a deliberate violation of articles 4 and 5 of the declaration of human rights.

It expressed concern that deterioration of human rights and prisoners' rights in all Myanmar prisons continues with no sign of improvement in recent months.