The military junta has increased security measures at Kyaikmaraw prison following a prison riot, according to sources close to the prison.
On the evening of 12 June, prison authorities allegedly forced an inmate to perform welding work on a two-story building.
The prisoner suffered an electric shock, fell off the building in the rain and lost consciousness.
The riot erupted when the political prisoners demanded that the injured inmate be given medical treatment outside instead of leaving him untreated inside, according to a source close to the prison.
“The riot occurred around 5pm when a prisoner was ordered to do welding work. During the welding work in the rain, he suffered an electric shock and fell two stories down. But he was just left there unattended. The political prisoners then protested and demanded that he receive medical treatment. As a result, the whole prison erupted,” said the source close to the prison.
The riot lasted from about 5pm to 7pm before calming down when the authorities allowed the injured prisoner to be taken to Mawlamyine for treatment, the source added.
Following the riot, junta forces significantly tightened security at Kyaikmaraw prison on 13 June and increased surveillance of inmates, according to sources close to the facility.
The sources report that Kyaikmaraw Prison routinely often denies prisoners adequate medical care, restricts medical treatment and provides inadequate food and drinking water,resulting in human rights violations.
In addition to tightening regulations on the transfer of personal items and food to inmates, the authorities now only allow families to transfer items after extensive searches and deny access to intermediaries.
More than 2,000 prisoners, including political prisoners, are being held in Kyaikmaraw Central Prison on various charges, according to sources close to the facility.
Sent by Than Lwin Times.