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Myanmar military authorities have imposed harder conditions and punishment on political prisoners, restricting their access to parcels, books and medicines and the beat of those who complain, a rights for defense and a family member.
The soldiers had trouble removing a wave of contempt from the public, as well as an increasing insurgency, because it overthrew a government elected in 2021 and more than 6,000 people were killed and nearly 29,000 were arrested for their opposition, the association of assistance for political prisoners, or AAPP.
Many detained people have been young people, merged by the ouster in 2021 of a civil government after a decade of provisional reform raised hopes of change in a country that had experienced a largely uninterrupted military regime since 1962.
The AAPP, in a press release on Monday, said that the conditions of political prisoners across the country were getting worse, with more restrictions on what they could obtain from outside.
A parent of a political prisoner held in Thayarwady prison in the Bago central region agreed, saying that the prisoners were not over.
“I sent medication because they were sick, and although he was accepted by the mail service, he did not reach the children,” said the parent who refused to be identified for security reasons.
Thayarwady prison is known to be cramped and collapsing.
“During the rainy season, there is rain, and during the hot season falls from the ceiling all the time, like the rain,” said the parent.
“I question them on this subject, but they will do nothing,” said the parent, referring to the prison authorities.
The AAPP, which monitors the conditions of human rights in Myanmar from the border with Thailand, also said that the penitentiary authorities brought restrictions on deliveries of packages and books, and that certain prisons had completely prohibited visits.
Political prisoners also complained of inadequate medical care and torture, the group said.
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In the infamous Insein prison of Insein de Yangon, the head of the union Thet Hnin Aung, the photojournalist Sai Zaw Thike and another man named Naing Win were beaten after talking to representatives of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission on the conditions of the prison during a visit.
“Three political detainees … were taken to the prison interrogation center, where they were tortured and beaten before being placed in isolation,” the group said in a statement published on Monday.
The FRG was unable to reach the office of the Deputy Director General of the Prisons Department for Comments.
The AAPP also said that three prisoners died due to the lack of medical care in February after being detained by the junta authorities in prisons and police stations.
The Myanmar junta faced accusations of human rights groups for not having provided adequate medical care to prisoners and often releases sick prisoners a few days before their death.
In 2024, 31 Political prisoners Died in detention, including two members of the National League for the Administration of Democracy of Aung San Suu Kyi who was overthrown in 2021, the former chief minister of the Mandalay region, Zaw Myint Maungand Minister of Electricity and Energy Win khhing.
Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by RFA staff.