Myanmar Political Prisoners Denied Basic Healthcare in Loikaw Ja

KPPA

Political prisoners in Myanmar’s Loikaw Prison are being denied essential medical care, with conditions worsening under the junta’s continued crackdown, a rights group has warned.

The Karenni Political Prisoners Association (KPPA) raised the alarm on Sunday, saying inmates—particularly the 140 political detainees—are suffering without access to medicine or proper treatment. Loikaw, in the heart of Karenni State, has remained under strict lockdown since the military launched a sweeping offensive known as Operation 1111 in November last year.

Since then, the prison has prohibited visits from family and blocked the delivery of outside medical supplies. “When inmates request medical treatment, the doctor scolds them and refuses to help,” said Ma Nandar Oo Khin, head of the KPPA.

The prison currently holds over 500 people, including 118 male and 22 female political prisoners. Many now suffer from mobility issues due to being confined for extended periods without exercise.

Despite resistance groups being pushed out of Loikaw in June 2024, the harsh restrictions persist. Detainees are not permitted to leave their cells, and poor diet and sanitation are compounding health risks. Meals have been reduced to twice-weekly meat rations—consisting of a single egg or dried fish—and water is severely rationed, leading to widespread skin infections.

Cell conditions are dire, with up to 15 inmates squeezed into 15-square-foot spaces. Only 11 scoops of water per person are allowed for bathing.

Tragically, one 35-year-old male inmate died in recent months due to lack of medical care. The Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM) reports that 14 political detainees have died this year alone from preventable health issues behind bars.

Human rights groups are urging international pressure on Myanmar’s junta to allow humanitarian access and uphold basic standards of care in prisons.

As the conflict drags on and political repression deepens, the silent suffering inside Myanmar’s jails is becoming an increasingly urgent crisis.

-2025-08-05