In Insein, Support for Those Forgotten

For over two years, Myanmar has been under the oppressive control of a military regime that has plunged the nation into a state of crisis. Since the coup on February 1, 2021, and the subsequent crackdown on the pro-democracy movement, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reports that over 3,900 lives have been lost, and a staggering 24,236 people have been arrested. Of these, 19,731 are still detained, with 7,013 currently serving sentences. 

Myanmar’s political prisoners, who have been unjustly detained for standing up for democracy and human rights, bear the brunt of the regime’s worst excesses. These men and women are enduring unimaginable hardships behind bars, cut off from the world and often forgotten. To add insult to injury, the military council, using the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse, has denied them contact with the outside world for more than three years. 

The enforced isolation has compounded the already severe difficulties faced by the prisoners and their families. And the economic crisis has only made things worse, with families struggling to provide basic necessities like food and hygiene supplies to their incarcerated loved ones.

In April 2021, a group of dedicated volunteers, moved by the plight of these prisoners, began to take action. They formed a group called Hope Behind Bars, and started by distributing rice boxes to the prisoners. Initially, around 40 boxes were delivered, offering a small but vital lifeline. However, the situation took a dangerous turn when a bomb blast occurred at the parcel delivery point in Insein Prison. In response, the military council stopped accepting any parcel boxes, cutting off a critical supply route for the prisoners.

Despite these daunting challenges, the volunteers persevered. They found new ways to get food and supplies to the prisoners, often covering the costs out of their own pockets. The expenses are steep, with the cost of providing food and drink for just one week amounting to an equivalent of around $250 for 40 boxes. But the determination to help these prisoners has never wavered. 

Through their work, these volunteers have also uncovered even more pressing issues faced by the prisoners, such as severe skin conditions caused by poor hygiene and unsanitary living conditions.  These discoveries have only highlighted the dire, pressing needs of these suffering prisoners.

The project’s name symbolizes much more than the physical supplies it provides. It sends a powerful message of compassion, solidarity, and hope. The care packages remind the prisoners that they are not alone, that there are people who care deeply about their well-being and are fighting to support them.

Initially, the care packages were delivered twice a month, but due to budget constraints, this has been reduced to once a month.

The goal is to deliver 40 packages to political prisoners who are in dire need of support, so we are again reaching out to compassionate individuals who believe in the power of solidarity. Recently, Better Burma has stepped in to support the Hope Behind Bars initiative, allocating some of our donation fund to this important work. This donation, made possible by kind-hearted and generous individual donors like you, has allowed the volunteers to provide nearly a month's supply of food to those in need. But more is needed.

If you wish to be a part of this endeavor and bring hope to those who need it most, please consider making a donation.  Your contribution will not only provide essential supplies but also uplift the spirits of these prisoners, sending a powerful message of solidarity and compassion, that they have not been forgotten. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of these political prisoners and let them know that they are not alone.

Your support is invaluable, and we look forward to the positive impact we can create together.