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Prisoner Labor



PRISONERS AND ABUSES BY SLORC       
 
Prisoner labor has been commonly practiced in Burma for a long time.  "We
will compensate for our crime with our sweat"  is the slogan for Burmese
prisoners who are ordered to work in labor camps.  Prisoner labor camps
are widely known as "Ye Bat camp" in [During the former Burmese Socialist
Program party (BSPP) era, "Ye Bat" was interpreted as criminal but during
Slorc's reign, political prisoners and pro - democracy activists are also
sent to "Ye Bat Labor camps" and ordered to work.  Political prisoners are
subject to torture and mistreatment by prison officials.  Political
prisoners (prisoners of conscience) are often kept in solitary
confinement, and even manacled and chained for no particular reason. Those
political prisoners sentenced to less than ten year imprisonment are sent
to prison labor camps across the country. 
 
The number of prisoners in Burma increased considerably after Slorc's coup
in 1988.  Since then, prisoners, including political prisoners and student
activists, have been used not only in the labor camps but at military
bases for military purposes. 
 
Along with local people, over 200 prisoners were used in the summer
military operation to carry supplies, food and ammunition to the Infantry
Battalion (19), LIB (340), (341) and (434), all based in Papon township
under the Southeastern Military command. These prisoners and other local
people were forced to porter supplies several times from Slorc supply
bases in Khaw Poke and Pa High to the military outposts along the Thai -
Burmese border. Each trip was 15 - 20 miles over rugged terrain, according
to eight prisoners who managed to escape to the Thai - Burma border.  The
only food they were given was rice which was never enough. Many porters
got malaria and other diseases and suffered terribly due to the hard
weather, according to them.  Soldiers kicked those who were sick or weak
and beat them with wooden stick or rifle butts. No medical assistance was
given during the portage. Three prisoners died due to the mistreatment and
lack of medical assistance, the escaped prisoners said. 
 
Slorc has set up six new "Win Saung" (porter) battalions comprised of
prisoner - laborers in order to cope with the shortage of prison
facilities resulting from an increase in prison population.  These "Win
Saung"  battalions are mainly used for the porterage in the frontier. 
During military operations porters are reportedly and regularly used as
human mine sweepers.  Prisoners are kept ready for porterage whenever
requested by the local army battalions. 
 
Currently, Myitkyina, Loi Kaw, Thaton and Mergui have one porter battalion
each and Pa-an has two porter battalions. The treatment in the prison
labor camps is very harsh and brutal according to eyewitnesses.  Only
those prisoners who can afford to pay bribe money (from 5 - 70000 kyat)
can avoid going to the labor camps.  Ko Too and Ko Kan Saung, both from Ye
- U township, Sagaing Division, were sentenced to three years imprisonment
with hard labor for their political activities during the 1988 uprising.
They were sent to a prison labor camp and died after brutal mistreatment
and harsh labor conditions, a local resident of Ye-U township reported. 
 
Moreover, the Venerable U Kawira, the chairman of the "Kalon Ni"  (magic
bird) Strike Committee in Mandalay in 1988 was forcibly disrobed and sent
to Moe Hnyin prisoner labor camp in Kachin State, according to a released
political prisoner from Myingyan prison. 
 
 
ABSDF News Agency
ABSDF (DAWN GWIN)