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1/n At least 426 people have been arrested since the coup on 1st Feb, but what are conditions likely to be for those detained? A thread on political prisoners, prisons, and reintegration in Myanmar. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
2/Prison in Myanmar is brutal. Colonial era prisons are underfunded & poorly maintained. There are extremely high levels of overcrowding & prisoners are routinely stripped of their dignity.
3/ Repeatedly forced into stress positions, prisoners are often beaten and humiliated by guards. Thousands of prisoners have died in custody over the last few decades, often tortured to death during interrogation.
4/ A terrible lack of hygiene makes prison a breeding ground for disease, something particularly concerning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Prisoners are often left malnourished from poor food and sick prisoners are regularly unable to access adequate healthcare.
5/ Yet problems do not disappear after release. Imprisonment is meant to break prisoners, both mentally and physically, so after release they are of limited use to the resistance. This is often devastatingly effective.
6/ Thousands of those imprisoned in the 88 movement and in the 2007 Saffron Revolution suffer long term mental and physical scars. Many are physically unable to work and rates of depression, alcoholism and PTSD are very high in former political prisoners.
7/ While many former political prisoner in Myanmar have gone onto be prominent politicians, journalists or influential members of civil society, many have not. Yet their struggles and contributions are equally valid.
8/ Being imprisoned is an inherently traumatic experience, be it for 1 day or 20 years. After release former political prisoners need compassion & empathy. Yet so many bravely return immediately to politics, without the time to process their experiences or trauma.
9/ I hope after the release of this latest generation of political prisoners, they will be afforded the space and mental and physical rehabilitation needed to recover from an incredibly traumatic and emotional experience.
10/ There is help available. @aapp_burma's Mental health Assistance Program offers counselling to former political prisoners. Other organisations offer help with physical rehabilitation too. Such initaives will require further funding in the wake of the coup.
11/ To find out more on conditions in prison @aapp has some great resources and reports. Particularly recommended are “Systematic Use of Torture”, https://aappb.org/?p=10070 , “Prison Conditions & Potential for Reform” https://aappb.org/?p=4741
12/ A report on the challenges ex-political prisoners face after release is also now highly pertinent. https://aappb.org/?p=4537 .
13/ Please consider donating to orgs like @aapp_burma, @athan_info, @PVamplify & more to support the vital work civil society does. Remember the risks that human rights defenders, activists & journalists take each day and offer former political prisoners your empathy & support.
