An interview with a youth who was released in prisoner amnesty about his experience in prison
The military council granted amnesty to 5,774 prisoners across the country. Among them, 402 people are political prisoners. Fifty-four political prisoners are among 156 prisoners released in Karen State. The Karen Information Center (KIC) interviewed a youth political prisoner who said on condition of anonymity and was arrested under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code about his experience in prison.
Q: How did you get arrested? Why did you get arrested?
A: We returned home after the completion of the training course at a liberated area. We had to do Covid-19 test on the way. The junta soldiers interrogated us as our group had a lot of people. We got arrested when some photos of guns were found in our mobile phones.
Q: Can you share your experience at the interrogation center after your arrest? Did you get beaten?
A: They arrested me at around 2 pm on 9 July. I was sent to the police station. The police interrogated me and then took photos at the police station. Then, I was sent to Hpa-An Myoma police station. I arrived at Hpa-An police station at around 8 pm. Two girls and a boy were immediately sent to the interrogation center as the photos were found in their mobile phones. Two girls were interrogated the whole night. They were released at around 9 am. The rest were interrogated at Hpa-An Myoma police station. Some detainees got beaten. The detainees are forced to kneel down for two to three hours, kicked and beaten with sticks. Police slapped, kicked and tortured two girls by rolling their legs with steel rods at the interrogation center. A boy who was sent to the interrogation center was beaten for three consecutive days. I saw him getting wounds to his lip, hands and faces as he returned from the interrogation center. Junta soldiers mainly asked us about the training course, the strength of trainees, links and location of camps with the use of maps.
Q: With which sections did the junta imprison you? Could you tell me about your court proceedings?
A: We were charged under Section 505 (a), following the interrogation at the police station. I think I attended court hearings around ten times. The court proceedings will be finalized within 180 days. The court appearance took around five months. Then, we were sentenced to two years in prison with hard labour under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code.
Q: Can you recall your prison experience following the final verdict?
A: We were sent to jail following the final verdict. We were sent to Hpa-An prison four days later. At the beginning, I had no significant experience.
Q: I have heard that you were infected with Covid-19 in the prison. How did you get treatment?
A: They conducted the Covid-test shortly after I got arrested. I tested negative. We all were infected with the virus as we had to stay together in the prison with other inmates who had already caught the virus. We did not get medical treatment. My family had to send medicine to me.
Q: I have frequently heard the news about the unrest in Hpa-An prison. How did the unrest occur?
A: Prisoners attacked and threw water bottles at a political prisoner who cooked the rice. Political prisoners were not satisfied with it when we talked about our situations. Senior and junior wardens solved the dispute between the prisoners from the wards. The situation became worse as prison authorities could not solve it exactly. Tension mounted as prison staff were ready to shoot. Prisoners asked the warden to make an apology. The jail remained open till 8 pm. Later, the soldiers entered the jail and threatened the prisoners to enter the jail. Then, the situation returned to normal. The next day, all political prisoners were sent to the prison. In the early morning, prison authorities told political prisoners that they would be taken to the interrogation center. Prisoners were not allowed to take their belongings. Later, prisoners had come to know that the prison authorities were planning to move them to another prison. Some prisoners are serving their prison terms together with their sisters and brothers, wives and husbands. Wife remained in the prison while her husband was moved to another prison. Prisoners told prison authorities to move them together. Disputes occurred again as prison authorities did not coordinate it. At that time, soldiers, police and Border Guard Force (BGF) members arrived there and aimed guns at us.
First, a plainclothes man shot a slingshot at us. The prisoners threw stones at them. Then, soldiers and police who were fully equipped with guns entered the prison. They are in a position to shoot. However, prisoners were requested to enter the cells. At that time, a man in plainclothes shot a slingshot at the crowd. Prisoners threw stones at him as they got angry. When the situation returned to normalcy, two prisoners each were handcuffed and taken. Seventeen prisoners were put in solitary confinement.
In June, there was a jailbreak. Then, political prisoners were moved from the jail to prison. When the final batch of prisoners arrived at the cells at around 11 pm, the prison authorities fired two shots. I did not know what was going on. Blood stains were found on hands and legs of prison staff when they returned from the prisoners who were put in solidity confinement. Blood stains were also found on the body of the prison doctor who returned from the prison cells. The next day, I came to know that there was a dispute between prison staff and prisoners. Prisoners argued with prison authorities as they were not allowed to walk outside. Then, prisoners went out, and bouts occurred. At that time, prison staff fired shots and then beat prisoners. Some prisoners got head wounds. One prisoner swooned. Prison staff dragged a prisoner and then continued to beat him even when he swooned. One day later, political prisoners were forced to kneel and head down. They shot slingshots at us. They shot slingshots at the eyes of those who headed up. They said bad language. They were under the influence of alcohol and cannabis. They shot slingshots at the sleeping ones. Around 30 prisoners got wounded. Since then, they came to the prison cells by saying bad language and beat jail rods at night. On June 10, we were moved to another prison.
Q: I have heard you experienced prisoner transfer. How did you get transferred? Can you share your experience?
A: On June 10, a batch of prisoners was transferred to Thayawaddy. On June 16, another batch of prisoners was transferred to Taungoo. Prison staff kicked us when we got down from the prison. The prisoners had to stand under the sunlight when they arrived at the entrance of the prison. The junta forces asked them to head down. We were surrounded by around 50 prisoners when we arrived in the next prison. The thugs kicked and beat us under the sunlight for around 20 minutes. We all were leg cuffed. They beat our legs with hammers. They cut our hair and then sent us to prison. Some prisoners were being monitored while some others were put in solidity confinement. They forced some prisoners to sit in a humiliating way. Prisoners had to have a walk at around 8 pm.
Q: How about information access in prison?
A: The military hides the news from the outside world. However, we are allowed to watch MRTV and read Myawady Newspaper only. We know nothing about the situations outside the jail.
Q: Did you experience human rights violations in prison? Or else, did you see such a case? Do you have an unforgettable memo?
A: We didn’t enjoy human rights, even prisoner rights. We did not fully enjoy prisoner rights such as food, healthcare and accommodation. We have to eat three meals a day in prison. Although chicken and pork curries are described on the notice board, in fact we had to eat chicken and fish soups. We had to eat boiled foods which have no salt and oil. Prison staff took photos of the curries such as chicken, pork curries and Sambar, to report to the above. Prison staff took them after taking photos. No one has to eat these curries. Prisoners have to eat boiled curries only. Prison staff took soaps back after taking photos. Officials from the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission visited the prison. We told them to give the prison rights. Most of the prisons who asked for prison rights were moved to other prisons soon after the commission promised it. The commission’s visit to the prison is just a for-show. There are no significant changes after their visit.
Q: How did you get out of jail? Did you have to sign a pledge, agreement and warning letter? Did you get information about your release in advance?
A: I had heard the news about our release in advance. However, we didn’t know who would be released. On 17 November, the prison authorities told us. Most of those released are the ones who are going to complete their jail terms. Some prisoners will have to serve their prison sentences only for two to three days and one or two months. However, they had to sign the pledges. They will have to serve their remaining prison terms if they commit the crimes again.
Q: May I know your view about the military council’s release of political prisoners?
A: I think the junta wants to restrict the movements of the prisoners who are going to complete their prison terms in order that the prisoners don’t dare to do it again. Those who have served their jail sentences don’t need to sign the pledge. The junta wants to curry favour with the international community. I think the junta uses the freeing of political prisoners as an exit tool to reduce the mounting international and domestic pressures when the country is facing such a political crisis. I don’t think the junta released political prisoners in good faith.
Q: What is your future plan?
A: I have not yet conducted a thorough study on how the political situations have changed when I was in prison for two years. I will proceed with a move to overthrow the military dictator based on the situation. We need to go ahead. The freeing of political prisoners is not a victory for us. We will continue to fight in order to demolish the military dictatorship which has been oppressing the public for over 70 years. Like us, other persons were released from jails. They experienced these situations. Some people remain behind bars. For them, we need to fight against the junta. Our comrades are serving long-prison sentences after they lose their future and have to stay away from their families and beloved ones. I would like to say that we are required to continue our fight against the junta by looking at the situations of our comrades.
Sent by KIC
