THREAD ON #MYANMAR PRISON RELEASES

Military government announces release of 23, 369 prisoners.

This could pose threats to protestors and to public safety.

Yet another return to the old junta playbook.

#Myanmarcoup #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #MyanmarPoliceBrutality
They could be making space for protestors

Myanmar's 42 prisons, 5 detentions centres and 48 labour camps are vastly overcrowded. In June 2019, there were 85,000 prisoners despite official capacity of just 72,000.

Lack of detention centres means prisons often used before trial.
This risks public safety and increasing crime rates

Myanmar does not have a parole system or meaningful rehabilitation services for prisoners.

When prisoners are released, it is not based on good behaviour or an assessment of their ability to return to non-criminal life
Most worrying is past use of criminals against protestors and in ethnic conflicts

1. As part of military-organised counter-protests to attack peaceful protesters - see 'swan ar shin'.

2. In ethnic areas, they are resettled to change demographics or used to porter mil equipment.
These prisons (and the police) were built by colonialists for quelling local opposition and protecting elite property.

They were never designed as part of a functioning criminal justice system intended to keep the public safe.
Ultra-nationalists, monk U Wirathu and former military commander U Hla Swe, are expected to be among those released

Both have fomented violence against Muslims, while claiming Aung San Suu Kyi and democracy represent a foreign agenda to destroy Buddhism

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More from @Kim_Jolliffe

13 Feb
THREAD - HATE THE SYSTEM NOT THE 'THUGS'

I interviewed one of the regime's so-called "thugs" in 2011.

He was a Kachin teenager who had gotten into a drunken fight in Myitkyina and was then sentenced to prison.

#Myanmar #Myanmarcoup #myanmarmilitarycoup #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
In 2011, while the Myanmar Army was struggling to fight combined forces of KNU, DKBA and KNU/KNLA-PC...

...the military government began transporting prisoners from across the country to the southeast so they could be forced to porter military equipment. hrw.org/report/2011/07…
He was one of these prisoners. He was hit by a DKBA bullet in the shoulder and hip, before managing to flee across enemy lines and give himself up.

They realised he was not the enemy and so he was allowed to live. He eventually found his way to Mae Tao clinic, Mae Sot, Thailand
Read 6 tweets
13 Feb
THREAD

The ends the #Myanmar regime is going to to incite fear and chaos are unprecedented & shocking.

Thugs are being dropped in neighbourhoods throughout Yangon to set fires, start fights and cause disturbance.

#Myanmarcoup #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #MyanmarPoliceBrutality
Police are being given powers in public writing to arrest anyone and act without permission of local administrators.

Those administrators (with bands of local people banging pots and pans) are having to take justice in their own hands and apprehend thugs to protect citizens.
The thugs are often on drugs and, after being apprehended, are admitting that they have been paid significant sums of cash to commit these acts. Some are still carrying their prison release forms from yesterday
Read 7 tweets
15 Feb 19
THREAD: Recent conflict between the #Myanmar military and the Restoration Council of #Shan State seems to represent a notable escalation and big blow to the ceasefire process. 1/9
After RCSS collectors allegedly seized equipment from the #Myanmar military, it retaliated with two symbolic bouts of shelling near the RCSS HQ area. The RCSS has viewed this as a direct message implying ‘we can attack your HQ’. 2/9
The coordinated nature of the attacks, from two separate locations, and the fact that they were so close to the border with Thailand, suggests that senior commanders were involved. And the RCSS have considered this a major infringement on the terms of the NCA. 3/9
Read 9 tweets

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