Authorities at Mawlaikkalay Prison have placed 15 female inmates in solitary confinement after more than 200 prisoners staged a peaceful demonstration to mark the fifth anniversary of the 2021 military coup.
The protest, which occurred on 1 February, involved over 100 political prisoners who sang the revolutionary anthem Blood Oath (Thway Thitsar) and demanded an end to gender-based discrimination in prison duties and the dismantling of authoritarian structures.
According to the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) and family members, the 15 women were singled out as alleged leaders of the strike and are being held in isolation despite having conducted the protest without any violence or property damage.
Ko Thike Htun Oo, a member of the Central Steering Committee of the Political Prisoners’ Network–Myanmar (PPNM), told Mizzima on 2 February that it has been confirmed 15 of the protesters were placed in solitary confinement and that further details are still under investigation.
“We have received reports that they were placed in solitary confinement. We are working to confirm the identities of those placed, but further details are not yet available,” he said.
PPNM has alerted the public and human rights organizations to closely monitor the security situation and welfare of the 15 female prisoners placed in solitary confinement.
Following the military coup, it was regrettable that sentences for nine major crimes including murder, rape, robbery, and extortion were not reduced, including for political prisoners. However, women were instead assigned increased positions of authority within prisons.
Inmates have reportedly set 17 April, Myanmar New Year’s Day, as the deadline for their demands. If authorities fail to comply, they have declared 18 April as a “Nationwide Prison Strike Day” and plan to continue their protests.
Located in Kalay Township, the prison houses roughly 1,600 inmates from Chin State, Kalay Wa, Min Kin, Paungbyin, Mawlaik, Homalin, and Khanti townships, including around 500 political prisoners.
