Don't Shut Away Lives, Open Them!
As the revolution gains more ground and thousands continue to flee their homes, activists are still working hard to assist political prisoners who are being denied access to medical treatment and left to suffer in Military council-run prisons. The following essay submission comes from Henry:
Amongst the constant stream of news coming out of Myanmar and the ever-quickening developments from the frontlines against the military, some truly inspiring and important acts of resistance or calls for action go untranslated and therefore unnoticed by most of the international community who can not read Burmese. The following article is about one of them, a campaign that aims to raise awareness amongst people in Myanmar, as well as international human rights organisations, of the plight of numerous political prisoners who suffer in detention without proper medical care. I decided to translate various Burmese language news articles as well as the public statements from the organisations behind the campaign and write up a quick summary for those wanting to know more about the variety of activism still taking place in Myanmar.
Photos of young people holding paper in front of their face with slogans such as “Stop Deaths in Prisons” and “Prison Hospitals Are Not Killing Fields” appear on social media as The Political Prisoners Network - Myanmar (PPN) launch a public campaign to shed light on the cruel treatment of unjustly detained political prisoners. The photo campaign includes ex-political prisoners, allied organisations and civilians holding up banners with the slogan ‘Atheq Peiq Ma Htaa, Pwint Be’ which loosely translated means ‘Don’t Shut Away Lives, Open Them’. Many of the faces are not shown in the photos to protect the participants from being arrested themselves.
The campaign named after this very slogan was launched on December 1st and aims to highlight the human rights violations of political prisoners. Specifically, calling out the Military regime and Prison Directorate for denying medical treatment and access to proper medicine.
In a statement by the Political Prisoners Network they highlight tragic cases of prisoners dying after being denied medical treatment. One ex-political prisoner under the pseudonym YuKi who spent time in Thayarwaddy prison stated in a post on PPN Myanmar’s social media that the situation there was critical: “The prison has no female doctors or nurses and no medical professionals specialising in women’s health or gynecology.” In a tragic incident a pregnant woman was about to give birth in prison when she was eventually sent to Insein hospital; the newborn sadly died after arriving at the hospital too late.
The PPN has requested that human rights organisations, including the ICRC, put as much pressure as possible on the military regime and the directorate of prisons to ensure adequate medical care for all prisoners, unrestricted access to medical treatment, and swift access to external medical facilities. They hope that with more pressure from international organisations there might be some improvement to living conditions of prisoners
The Political Prisoners Network - Myanmar published in a statement on their social media their principle aims:
- Prevent further deaths in prisons from being denied medical treatment.
- Prevent people dying in prison hospitals that do not have enough medicine.
- Let people know that life is valuable and prisoners should not be treated inhumanely.
- Allow swift access to external medical clinics for critical patients as mothers as well as newborns have died due to denied access to external facilities.
With many political prisoners serving ludicrously long sentences, having access to even basic medical care could save lives of many languishing in prisons that already infamous for their cruelty and torture. In some prisons the only medicine they provide is only two or three types of basic pain medications like paracetamol and many prisons forbid family members of detainees from sending any kind of medicine at all, even Myanmar traditional medicine is not allowed. Since the start of the coup over 1500 people have died in detainment due to neglect or force from the military. With many people arrested without their families being informed of their whereabouts and many other people simply disappearing, the figure is likely to be much higher.
This campaign is a reminder that we cannot forget about those facing injustice in prisons who often undergo torture and interrogation. As of 1st December, The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) reports there are over 25,000 political prisoners that have been arrested since the military coup in February 2021 and over 19,000 still remain in detention
As much attention is focused on the recent successes of the Brotherhood Alliance in Shan State, the MNDAA entering Laukkai, and the military regime seemingly on the ropes; activists are taking to the streets to push the momentum. Khit Thit Media has reported anti-military regime demonstrations in Myaing Township, Yinmar pin Township, Salingyi, Kya In Seikgyi Township and other townships around the country. Many activists are doing what they can to oppose the military council even if they can’t fight directly on the frontlines. Similarly, organisations that focus on detainees are doing their part to ensure political prisoners are not left forgotten in prison without support.
Sources:
Myaelat Athan
Political prisoners network - Myanmar's official Facebook account
Khit Thit media
