Date: September 27, 2005.
Information Release

Since last week, at least 7 prisoners have died and around 80 are in the prison hospital due to an outbreak of diarrhea. The disease has yet to reach political prisoners.

The outbreak occurred due to rotten beans and rice served at mealtime, and the unclean drinking water. Further, the sewage system in the prison facilitates spread of the disease.

When the prison Director inspected the prison, the Superintendent of Tharawaddy reported the outbreak was due to the meat served, and not then beans or unclean water.

As a result, the Superintendent, U Myint Swe, prohibited prisoners' families from providing fried fish paste, fried beef and fish. The families and prisoners then became angry. They now have less quality food in their meals, as they rely on their families to receive enough proper, nutritious food. Now, the situation is tense between political prisoners and the prison authorities.

Prison authorities are failing to take seriously the need to treat prisoners for the disease. They brought in specialist doctors from Tharawaddy General Hospital, but there is still not enough medicine and other facilities.

Political prisoners' families, after returning from prison visits, reported the situation to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). However, until now, we do not have information regarding the ability of the ICRC to help those ill prisoners.

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)