The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) has confirmed that more than 30 prisoners, including political prisoners, have died at Obo Prison in Mandalay due to earthquake damage. According to reports, over 280 people were injured in the incident, including 10 male and 10 female political prisoners, with concerns that the death toll could rise further as the situation develops.
Currently, political prisoners are being forced to remain inside the earthquake-damaged prison buildings, with threats of transfer to other facilities if they do not comply. The prisoners, who have suffered severe physical and psychological trauma from the earthquake, are not receiving adequate medical care and are facing continued intimidation from prison staff. The situation has raised serious humanitarian concerns about the treatment of detainees in the aftermath of the natural disaster.
Emergency assistance is urgently needed in the prisons, and various organizations including Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar (PPNM), Assistant Association For Political Prisoners (AAPP), Karenni Political Prisoners Association (KPPA), Women’s Organization Of Political Prisoners (WOPP), Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS), Spring Tamane Political Prisoners Support Group, and Prison Visit Support Group have issued a joint statement calling on the United Nations and international human rights organizations to continuously monitor and pressure against the military council’s brutal oppression of political prisoners in Myanmar’s prisons. The groups emphasize the need for immediate intervention to address the deteriorating conditions and prevent further loss of life.
