Mizzima
At least 50 inmates in Loikaw Prison, Karenni State, are reportedly unable to walk due to malnutrition and restrictions on physical activities.
Of those 50 prisoners, at least half are political prisoners. The exact number of affected prisoners is still being investigated.
Out of the 500 inmates in Loikaw Prison over 110 are political prisoners, according to the Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar (PPNM).
Talking of the prisoners’ malnutrition Thaik Tun Oo, a PPNM committee member, said: “Insufficient nutritious food weakens the body and renders it unable to walk. It’s as if the lower body is paralysed, causing individuals to fall down. This affects not only adults but also young people. From what we’ve heard, at least 50 people [in Loikaw Prison] are experiencing this.”
The Loikaw Prison authorities have cut the prisoners’ standard rations of rice, pea curry, and four pieces of meat per week. Instead, they have been feeding the prisoners with rice, fish paste, and coarse salt, which has led to malnutrition amongst the inmates, according to PPNM.
To make matters worse, since the launch of Operation 1111 in Karenni State in November 2023 it has become a lot harder to send parcels to prisoners in Loikaw Prison.
Previously, inmates relied on parcels to supplement their rations because the rice and curry they were served was not sufficient. Now, the prisoners receive even fewer rations and they can no longer rely on food parcels to supplement their insufficient rations.
The prisoners ’physical health has also been harmed because their exercise time has been severely restricted by the prison authorities, who say they have to do this because of the ongoing conflict in Karenni State. This lack of exercise has meant that even more prisoners are now unable to walk, according to the PPNM.
“As it is a time of conflict, even exercising is viewed as rebellious by them [the Loikaw Prison authorities]. They completely oppose it. Due to concerns about escapes during this turbulent period, inmates are spending more time confined behind bars”, said Thaik Tun Oo.
PPNM is concerned that the lack of proper food and exercise for prisoners at Loikaw Prison could lead to prisoners dying at any time, so it is urging the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and
international human rights organizations not to overlook the issue of Loikaw Prison and to closely monitor the situation.
Since the start of Operation 1111 heavy fighting in Loikaw Town has displaced most of the residents from their homes.
Since the fighting increased in Loikaw Town the prison has been more heavily fortified and the Karenni Political Prisoner Association (KPPA) said that it is concerned that prisoners could be used as human shields in the fighting.
