Around 100 political prisoners jailed in Sagaing Region’s Monywa Prison were transferred on Thursday to other prisons.
A local resident said he saw prison authorities put up barricades across the roads to Monywa Prison on Thursday, as the political detainees were reportedly transferred to Obo Prison and Myingyan Prison, both in Mandalay Region.
The transfer followed a fatal crackdown on an anti-regime protest in Monywa Prison on April 3, during which at least one inmate was killed and five others injured.
On April 3, political prisoners and other detainees in Monywa Prison staged a loud protest against human rights violations and torture. Monywa’s jail holds nearly 1,000 inmates, most of whom are political detainees. Prominent protest leader Wai Moe Naing and ousted Sagaing Region Chief Minister Dr. Myint Naing are both being held at Monywa.
“The regime has transferred the political prisoners to separate protest leaders after the recent protest inside Monywa Prison,” said a lawyer who is helping political activists.
Ko Thant Zin Aung from Monywa Township, who was jailed for incitement under Section 505(a) of the Penal Code, was shot dead by junta troops during the crackdown on the prison protest, according to the Monywa Strike Committee.
Since the protest, the military regime has cancelled trials inside the prison, according to lawyers.
Among those transferred from Monywa Prison were Daw Khin Hmwe Lwin, a National League for Democracy lawmaker from Sagaing’s Mingin Township, and political activist Ko Shinn Thant.
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