After the political prisoners initiated a hunger strike at Kyaikmaraw Jail, the prison authorities acquiesced to three demands, according to the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM).

On February 6th, 47 inmates at Kyaikmaraw Jail commenced a hunger strike to press for three demands, one of which was refraining from using extreme measures during prisoner examinations.

"We heard the prison authorities agreed to meet the demands, but we are not entirely convinced. Sometimes, they use tricks and make short-term deals to calm the prisoners. Later they often crackdown on the main organizers”, Ko Thaik Tun Oo, a member of PPNM’s steering committee told MNJ.

On January 28th, the authorities at Kyaikmaraw Jail conducted harsh examinations of inmates, using the discovery of two mobile phones during a random cell inspection as justification.

The phones were not found in the possession of the inmates; nevertheless the authorities carried out rigorous examinations. Furthermore, on February 4th two inmates were beaten without any apparent reasons and placed in solitary confinement, PPNM stated.

Disheartened by these circumstances, the hunger strike began, as protesting inmates voiced demands to cease extreme measures during prisoner examinations, ensure adherence to human rights in their treatment, and provide adequate healthcare support.