At least 24 political prisoners inside Insein prisonin the Yangon region have been detained with leg shackles since 5 November2023, claimed the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM).

In a statement issued on 16 March, the forum alsoadded that those political prisoners include  U Htin Kyaw, Ko Zaw NaingTun, Ko Myo Min Oo, Ko Bala Gyi, Ko Ye Min Htwe, Ko Chan Myae Ko Ko, Ko Hla OoMaung, 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 insolitary confinement for three months.

Among the individuals currently wearing leg shacklesare political prisoners aged between 20 and 60, who have been charged undersection 54(a), section 52(a), section 19(f) and section 3 of the ExplosiveSubstances Act.

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

It also alleged that the prison authorities continue committing human rightsviolations.

Article 4 of the declaration of human rights hasstated that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude, while article 5specifies that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman, ordegrading 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 ofshackling the prisoners’ legs and forcing them into labour reflected adeliberate violation of articles 4 and 5 of the declaration of human rights.

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