Prison authorities at Daik-U Prison in Bago Region have arbitrarily placed 8 female political prisoners in solitary confinement without valid justification, according to a representative from the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM). On July 23, prison staff conducted a search of Room 1 in the women’s (May Kha) ward and claimed to have found a phone battery near political prisoner Ma No Ba Ni Ni Htwe’s area. They then took her away to put her in solitary confinement, though they never properly presented the alleged evidence or followed due process.
During the incident, prison officials including Third Grade Prison Officer Zin Ma Kyaw Aung, First Grade Thazin Myint, and Private Phyo Htet Htet Aung physically assaulted Ma No Ba Ni Ni Htwe by pulling her hair and hitting her body while taking her away. Other political prisoners in the facility protested this unjust treatment and demanded that Ma No Ba Ni Ni Htwe not be placed in solitary confinement or subjected to abuse. However, prison authorities not only proceeded with confining Ma No Ba Ni Ni Htwe but also placed 7 additional political prisoners who had protested in solitary confinement, accusing them of inciting prison unrest.
The political prisoners who were placed in solitary confinement are Daw Nu Nu Aung, Ma Nyo Nyo Win, Khin Yadana Win, Ma Mya Thanda Aung, Ma Aye Aye Win, Ma Chay Htwe and Ma Su Nanda Hlaing. Prison authorities claimed the women’s ward was overcrowded and placed the political prisoners in cells between Male Ward 4 and the kitchen area that were originally meant for male inmates. According to PPNM’s statement, approximately 27 female political prisoners are now being held in solitary confinement under these conditions.
