Around 500 including 100 political prisoners transferred from Taungoo Prison to Thayarwady Prison with handcuffs

Photo – Inmates are seen being transferred from a prison. Maung Khet Nway (July 23) Mizzima. || Around 500 inmates, including 100 political prisoners, were suddenly transferred from Taungoo Prison in Bago Region to Thayarwady Prison on the morning of July 23, according to the Prisoners' Assistance Association (PPNM). Prison authorities called out the names of those to be transferred a day in advance, handcuffed them, and then transported them to Thayarwady Prison in 12-wheel vehicles around 3:30 AM today. "During the prison transfer, each inmate was allowed to carry only three blankets and one set of clothes, and all other personal belongings and visiting items were confiscated by the prison authorities," stated the PPNM release. "Prison transfers are never announced in advance. When we ourselves are transferred, we are woken up early in the morning and taken away. There are restrictions on how much luggage we can carry. In Taungoo Prison, the inmates had settled in. Families might have been sending food items to Taungoo Prison or visiting. With the sudden transfer, travel expenses could become difficult," said Maung Roun Ni Lin, the PPNM Information Officer. Inmates with family members living far from Thayarwady Prison may face difficulties in visiting and delivering food. The PPNM official also stated that during the rainy season, with only a few clothes allowed, inmates may experience clothes not drying and skin rashes. PPNM pointed out that the systematic physical and psychological oppression of inmates, including the use of handcuffs, confiscation of personal belongings, and sudden transfers in the early morning hours, is being carried out. Furthermore, PPNM has announced that it will continue to monitor and expose such human rights violations and oppression against political prisoners and inmates. According to the July 22 data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a total of 31,551 people have been arrested since the military coup in February 2021 until July 22, 2026, and 14,584 of them are still being detained. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo