Political prisoners—both men and women—held at Kale Prison issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to end military dictatorship in Myanmar.
They said they would continue to stand firm in their beliefs, drawing respect and inspiration from State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, whom they described as unwavering in her resistance to authoritarian rule despite ongoing repression.
In the statement released on June 19, coinciding with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 81st birthday, the prisoners said they bow with respect to her resilience and continued resistance, and pledged that they would not abandon their political convictions under any circumstances.
Kale Prison, located in Mawlaik Town, Kale Township, Sagaing Region, has a reputation for harsh treatment and repression of political prisoners.
The political prisoners also condemned the continued detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi by the regime led by coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and his accomplices. They said she remains unjustly held and is still denied any meeting or contact with others, which they described as evidence of the authorities’ deep fear of her influence.
They further argued that the junta’s ongoing imprisonment of political opponents, party leaders, and activists—along with broader repression of dissent—directly contradicts democratic standards and violates democratic dignity, despite the military’s claims that it is building a democratic government.
The statement also denounced the junta’s continued arrests and detentions of critics and opposition figures, as well as the ongoing suppression of dissent and continued pressure on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners, describing these actions as fascist in nature.
Finally, the political prisoners called on Min Aung Hlaing and his associates to stop presenting their coup regime-turned-new administration as a democratic government. They urged that if the regime truely cares about the country, it should courageously implement the political changes demanded by the public, including constitutional reform toward a genuine federal democratic union based on popular aspirations.
