37 individuals who were identified as political prisoners and were being held at Kyaiksakaw Prison in Daik-U Township, Bago Region, have been reported missing after they were taken out for transfer to another facility.
It has been around 10 days since the political prisoners were taken out for transfer to another prison. However, the families of these individuals are growing increasingly concerned as they have not received any updates or information regarding their whereabouts during this period.
"The individuals who are currently missing were subjected to multiple visits to the Military Council's interrogation facility in Pyinpongyi during June, where they endured torture. Tragically, one of them lost his life due to the excessive brutality inflicted upon them. Although the prison staff informed us that 37 political prisoners had been transferred to Thayarwaddy Prison, our inquiries into Thayarwaddy Prison revealed that they have not yet received any political prisoners. This situation has caused us immense concern, leaving us wondering if they are facing significant troubles”, the mother of a missing prisoner told Kaladan Press.
On June 27th, the political prisoners were taken out from Kyaiksakaw Prison, and there have been no updates or information available regarding their situation since that date. Furthermore, the prison officials failed to notify their families regarding their prison transfer.
"We received no prior notice of their transfer to another prison. We checked with Thayarwaddy, Insein, and Thayet Prisons, but they stated no political prisoners had arrived. We are extremely anxious and clueless about their whereabouts. We can't even be certain if they are safe or alive”, the father of a political prisoner said.
The political prisoners who are currently missing are individuals who have received sentences of 40 years or more in prison. According to prison regulations, inmates who are already incarcerated should not be taken outside of the prison. In the event that it becomes necessary to conduct investigations outside the prison, special permission from the Ministry of the Interior is required, and their cases should be heard exclusively in the courts.
According to the law, prisoners can only be examined in the presence of prison officers from their respective prisons. Hence, the action of taking out political prisoners like that is not in accordance with the law, as stated by a lawyer who was previously a political prisoner himself.
In June, Ko Thant Zin Win, a political prisoner serving a lengthy sentence, lost his life during a brutal examination at the Pyinpongyi interrogation facility, along with other fellow political prisoners.
