By: Jessica Ties
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar– Rights groups are calling on authorities in Myanmar to end the poor conditions of fifteen political prisoners who are being held in dog cells and deprived of water.

On October 26 the prisoners began a hunger strike to protest the denial of the same sentence reductions that are offered to criminal prisoners. In Myanmar, criminal prisoners automatically have their sentences reduced by one-third in return for good behavior. Political prisoners, however, are given no opportunity to reduce their sentences.

On October 27, authorities began to retaliate against the prisoners by depriving them of water. This deprivation continued through at least November 2.

Amnesty International has stated that “depriving prisoners of drinking water as a punishment for participating in a hunger strike that could result in the prison authorities being responsible for the rapid death of the hunger strikers due to dehydration.” The statement continued to state that prisoner induced death by dehydration would be a “…violation of the right to life according to international law…”

On November 1 two of the prisoners were sent to the hospital while eight other prisoners were moved into cells designed to contain prison guard dogs. The dog cells measure approximately ten feet in length and seven feet in width. They are sound proof, do not have windows and are generally unsanitary and lacking in a bed or mat on the floor.

Reportedly, the prisoners have also been denied food, letters from their families, medication and visits.

The joint-secretary of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma, Bo Kyi, believes that approximately 1,600 political prisoners remain imprisoned in Myanmar. He also stated that “[t]he Burmese prison authorities usually crack down brutally on striking prisoners, so we are worried for their lives.”

There have been reports that the Myanmar government is planning to release approximately 600 political prisoners next week as part of a new amnesty program by President Thein Sein’s new civilian government. The new releases would add to the several hundred political prisoners released less than a month ago.

According to the Myanmar government, there are only 600 political prisoners remaining in custody meaning that the expected release next week will free the remaining political prisoners. Amnesty International, however, insists that there are still approximately 2,000 political prisoners in jail.

Although the list of those to be released has been submitted to the National Defense and Security Council by the Myanmar president, it is unknown whether the hunger strikers are among those slated to be released.

For more information, please see:

The Irrawaddy – Families Fear for Hunger Strikers – 5 November 2011

Amnesty International – Myanmar Political Prisoners Held in Dog Cells and Denied Water – 4 November 2011

Radio Free Asia – New Political Prisoner Release ‘Likely’ – 4 November 2011

Reuters – Myanmar Prisoners on Hunger Strike Denied Drinking Water – 4 November 2011