Prison riot victims’ families seek state media clarification of misleading reports

Prison riot victims' families seek state media clarification of misleading reports

Published on Wednesday, 18 September 2013 17:54

Family members and Democratic Party (Myanmar) MPs held a press conference on Tuesday to seek answers from state-owned media regarding their coverage of the September 13 riot that killed one inmate and injured 13 others at 9th Mile Prison.

At the press conference, held at the Garden Hotel in Kawthaung, family members of prisoners involved in the incident demanded a meeting with state media and an explanation for their inaccurate reporting of the incident.

State media reported on Sunday that the riot occurred after inmates had attempted a prison break while three inmates were fighting in a cell on Sunday night. According to these reports, a quarrel broke out between two brothers and another inmate, prompting another group of inmates to spark unrest in order to create a distraction. However, family members of the prisoners involved said at the press conference that the riot was sparked by the use of torture against the inmates—not by an attempted prison break.

Than Tun from the Democratic Party (Myanmar) said the key issues at stake in this case—the use of torture in prison and the news blackout surrounding the exact circumstances of the riot—should be brought to the attention of the president.

"We had to go to the prison, eight miles from the town centre, before visiting time ended at 5.45pm," said Than Tun. "The drunken prison warden, and three other staff members, were torturing two jailed brothers who had been quarrelling. Other prisoners told them to stop the torture. Then prison staff began firing and shouting, 'There's a prison break!' So, the prisoners had to run to escape the shooting. They had no place to hide but had to climb up onto the roof."

Than Tun said the prisoners cut off the electric wires so that they could avoid the fusillade of bullets. The shooting stopped at about 9pm when the district and township administrators arrived, he added.

"There were casualties in the prison riot. The following day, two members from the 88 Generation Group and three from our party were allowed to enter the prison. Family members of the prisoners were allowed to meet them at 3.30 pm. But the media were not allowed to meet the prisoners," said Than Tun.

Regarding the riot, the prisoners have made three demands: correction of Myanmar Radio and Television's reporting, the right to meet with the press, and dismissal of the prison warden.

"Such an incident did not even happen during the military regime. We have learned that, reportedly, some 100 to 150 bullets were fired at Cell One. The inmates asked the prison chief to stop the inhumane acts. The chief was getting drunk at that time. The local people want accurate news about that, but government departments have no transparency yet," local private school teacher Myo Lwin said at the press conference.

When The Daily Eleven asked about latest developments in the prison and whether the media could meet with the prisoners, press conference organizers said the situation is now stable and that some prison staff would possibly be transferred. The prison chief is currently being interviewed by the regional government, and parties and organizations will work with the district administrator to arrange a meeting with the media, they added.

Of the 13 injured, two were sent to Dawei Hospital and another to Myeik Hospital. Security has reportedly been tightened around the hospitals.

Ninth Mile Prison is located in Kawthaung Township, Taninthayi Region.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/prison-riot-victims-families-seek-state-media-clarification-of-misleading-reports/