Burma Related News

BANGKOK, June 6, 2008 (AFP) - Dysentery, typhoid and other diseases are spreading through Myanmar's notorious Insein Prison after Cyclone Nargis destroyed inmates' food supplies, a Thailand-based watchdog said Friday.

The cyclone that hit five weeks ago ripped off roofs and flooded wards at Insein, which holds many of Myanmar's nearly 2,000 political prisoners, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said in a statement.

The group said last month that 40 people died in a riot in the prison during the cyclone after a fire broke out. Security forces opened fire to quell the violence, while four political prisoners were later tortured to death during interrogations, AAPP said.

In Geneva, special UN rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, Tomas Ojea Quintana, called for an investigation to shed full light on the incidents and identify those responsible.

He said in a report to the UN Human Rights Council that a number of prisoners were killed but did not give a precise figure.

"Prisoners reportedly panicked, creating chaos inside the hall. In order to control the situation, it is reported that soldiers and riot police were called in and opened fire on the prisoners. A number of prisoners were allegedly killed during the operation," he said.

The storm ripped the roof off the prison's food warehouse, leaving most of its stocks rotting. The International Committee of the Red Cross delivered fresh food, but these supplies have already run out, AAPP said.

Now prison authorities are giving inmates rotten food, which has caused outbreaks of disease, hitting female prisoners especially hard, the group said.

"The health situation of prisoners will worsen and become critical if they are fed that bad and inedible food any longer," said Tate Naing, AAPP's secretary.

"Contagious diseases will spread very quickly in a crowded place like a prison, if authorities do not take appropriate actions promptly."

Myanmar is believed to have at least 1,800 political prisoners, including 700 arrested last year in a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks.

Tate Naing said at least two of them are in serious ill health, including Myo Yan Naung Thein, who was arrested in December for joining the monks' protests.

He was beaten during interrogation and now requires assistance to walk, Tate Naing said.

Ohn Than, who was arrested in August after protesting outside the US embassy in Yangon, is suffering from cerebral malaria, which is now at a severe stage, he added.

More than 133,000 people are dead or missing following the cyclone, which struck on May 2-3. The United Nations estimates that one million hungry and homeless survivors have yet to receive any aid, despite the ruling junta's promises to speed up the relief effort.