Use of torture in prison against human rights

Use of torture in prison against human rights - activists

Published on Tuesday, 17 September 2013 19:59

State newspapers reported on Monday that prisoners had attempted a prison break in Kawthaung Township, Tanintharyi Region while three inmates were fighting in a cell on Sunday night.

However, local activists say that one prisoner was killed and seven were injured after the prison officials opened fire on the prisoners to control the riot. Independent media have reported that the riot was sparked by the use of torture against inmates.

"Beating up prisoners in the prison is against human rights. Giving cane sentences is no longer included in the prison manual. Beating is not included [in the handbook] even when giving punishment for those who break the law in the prison. It's another issue if there is a riot. So, the prison officials are breaking the law if they beat up prisoners," said Myint Aung, a former political prisoner.

Inmates who were unsatisfied with the report from state newspapers staged a protest on Sunday morning, demanding that the authorities take action against the prison warden and allow the prisoners to meet with the press.

The Tanintharyi Regional Government has taken the prison warden for questioning on Monday and is now working on allowing the inmates to meet with their parents and relatives.

Aung Zeya, a former political prisoner, also said he and his fellow inmates had been beaten for demanding better meals and reading time when he was sentenced to prison in 1990.

"The police force has been only giving priority to security regarding the incident at Kawthaung prison. We have launched an enquiry to investigate this incident," Police Colonel Kyi Linn of Tanintharyi Region Police Force said on Monday evening.

Kyaw Soe, director of Nay Pyi Taw Correctional Department, said on Monday evening that the Tanintharyi Regional government is investigating the incident and the department has not received any official information from them.

"We are conducting a detail investigation of this incident. If they didn't use gunfire to control the riot, there could have been a prison break. We are investigating whether their actions were in accord with the law or not. After we get the results, we will take action against the respective official if he had broken the law," said Tin Thein, secretary of Tanintharyi Regional government office.

When the regional reporter from the Daily Eleven called the respective authorities on Sunday, he was told that they were conducting an investigation at the prison. When the reporter called back the next day, he was told that the district officials had left the office to carry out bilateral trade and border matters on the Thai-Myanmar border.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/use-of-torture-in-prison-against-human-rights/