62 political prisoners who participated in protests at Pathein Prison will face a three-year extension to their prison terms according to sources close to the Prison Department
The Pathein Prison Court in Ayeyarwady Region has recently handed down a verdict, sentencing 62 political prisoners who took part in January protests at Pathein Prison to an additional three years of imprisonment each..
"All 62 protestors have been convicted and received a 3-year prison sentence under Section 42 for the charges of breaching prison regulations and inciting a prison riot," stated sources close to the Prison Department.
Family members of some of the political prisoners have verified that the 62 individuals were indeed sentenced to a three-year extension each at the special court held in Pathein Prison on July 6.
According to certain prison staff, an incident took place in Pathein Prison on the night of January 5, wherein 8 political prisoners were taken out for inspection. The following day, 7 of them returned with injuries, while one prisoner was reported missing. This incident sparked a protest within the prison.
According to an individual who was released from prison, following the protest within the prison, permission to visit the prisoners was suspended for approximately six months. This restriction resulted in difficulties for the prisoners in obtaining food and medicine during that period.
"They claimed that eight individuals were identified as leaders and subsequently confined to solitary cells from that day onwards. The remaining prisoners were subjected to being shackled with iron chains," said a person who was released from prison.
The prisoners were confined together in a room of approximately 40 feet in size and were granted a limited period of around 30 minutes per day to leave the room and take showers, according to sources close to the prison staff.
A person who was released from prison stated that for approximately five months after the protest, two or three prisoners were taken out every night and subjected to beatings and torture, by prison staff members who held grudges against political prisoners.
"Since the issue began, they have been demanding money from families over the phone for various reasons. The worst thing is that they are demanding money as a means to prevent being included on the prison transfer list," said a person close to the families of political prisoners.
During the Pathein Prison riot, former PDF member Ko Wai Yan Phyo (aka Yar Su), a political prisoner, lost his life, while 64 other prisoners sustained injuries when the police, under the Military Council, opened fire.
People close to the Prison Department have reported that all political prisoners, including Ko Mel Gyi, Ko Phoe La Pyae, Ko Sithu Aung, and Ko Nyi Tun, suffered injuries inflicted by the prison staff. Ko Win Naing Tun suffered from broken teeth and hearing impairment, while U Zaw Htike completely lost his hearing.
