June 29th, 2022
The families of jailed political prisoners in Karenni State are unable to visit their relatives regularly as they have to flee to safer places, some family members say.
“When my elder daughter was present in a foreign country, I could meet my son once a week. I have no income as my elder daughter no longer goes abroad. It has been three weeks since I could not visit him. I should meet him. But I have no money,” a woman whose son was sentenced to five years in prison under Section 505 (a) and Section 17 (1) of the Penal Code said.
Most of the detainees are from the conflict-affected Demawso Township where the locals have fled for their lives.
“I have not visited him since the final court decision. It is difficult for the families to visit the prisoners due to the clashes near the prison,” a family member of a political prisoner who was sentenced to three years in prison under Section 17 (1) of the Penal Code, from Demawso Township.
In the past, family visits were allowed once a week. They could send curries to their relatives. The family visit cost around Ks-40,000 per week, according to the family members.
“The families of political prisoners face financial difficulties. A lot of families face financial and food difficulties. For instance, the situations of the people in Pekon Township are worse. The women whose husbands and sons are arrested, have to flee to safer places,” an official of the Progressive Karenni People’s Force (PKPF) which is compiling the lists of political prisoners in Karenni State says.
According to the statement issued by the PKPF in April, the military arrested 234 people and imprisoned 94 people in Karenni State since the coup.
The political prisoners are being detained in Loikaw prison. The families of the detainees also face transportation difficulties as they are displaced by the conflicts, a family member of the political prisoner adds.
Since the coup, the military has detained 174 people in Karenni State, according to the statement by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) on June 27th.
Sent by Maw Mi Myar (Kantarawaddy Times)