AN inspection team led by U Kyaw Myint and U Than Win, members of the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, conducted an inspection visit to the DaikU Central Prison in DaikU Township, Bago Region, yesterday under Sections 43 and 44 of the Commission’s Law. During the inspection, the team inspected the fundamental rights entitled to prisoners and detainees, including the matters relating to an adequate food supply, access to healthcare facilities and referral to external hospitals for treatment depending on illnesses, and provision of sufficient purified drinking water and water for domestic use, the situation of allowing family visits, the receipt of items issued by the prison and those sent by family members, the provision of physical exercise and sports activities for health and fitness, the right to practice religion in pursuit of their faith and the provision of vocational training. In addition, the team enquired whether there were instances of human rights violations or torture by prison officials and fellow inmates. The inspection team also met family members who came to visit prisoners and asked whether they faced any difficulties in meeting their relatives or in sending items to the prisoners. Moreover, the team conducted private and confidential interviews with 31 prisoners who requested to meet separately, and recorded their submissions.
The inspection team then inspected various facilities, including the dormitories of prisoners and detainees, the prison hospital, library, kitchen, food warehouse, family visit area, water purifiers, water storage tanks for domestic use, and the cleanliness of the internal and external sewage system. The team also followed up on the implementation status of recommendations made by the inspection team during the previous visit. The Commission donated 100 knowledgeable books for prisoners to read and study.
The inspection team will send its findings and recommendations to the relevant department for necessary action under the Commission Law. — MNHRC
