Insein Prison
Encyclopedia
Insein Prison is located in Yangon Division
, near Yangon
(Rangoon), the old capital of Myanmar
. It is run by the military junta of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council
, and used largely to repress political dissidents.
The prison is notorious worldwide for its inhumane and dirty conditions, abusive techniques, and uses of mental and physical torture.
One of its most famous prisoners is the Nobel Peace prize winning human rights activist, Aung San Suu Kyi
, who has been confined to Insein on three separate occasions in 2003, 2007 and 2009. Other known prisoners include 21 year-old Burmese video-journalist named Sithu Zeya who after being arrested in April 2010, is currently serving an 8-year sentence for photographing the aftermath of an attack on civilians by the military junta. Another imprisoned video-journalist is 29 year-old Ngwe Soe Lin who was arrested in an internet cafe in Rangoon on April 14th, 2010 for his video coverage of Burmese children orphaned by Cyclone Nargis
in 2008. Democracy activist Aye Yung
was held for trial at Insein Prison for distribution of leaflets at Dagon University
.
Yangon Division
Yangon Region is an administrative region of Myanmar. Located in the heart of Lower Myanmar, the division is bordered by Bago Region in the north and east, the Gulf of Martaban in the south, and Ayeyarwady Region in the west. Yangon Region is dominated by its capital city of Yangon, the former...
, near Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
(Rangoon), the old capital of Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. It is run by the military junta of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
, and used largely to repress political dissidents.
The prison is notorious worldwide for its inhumane and dirty conditions, abusive techniques, and uses of mental and physical torture.
One of its most famous prisoners is the Nobel Peace prize winning human rights activist, Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, who has been confined to Insein on three separate occasions in 2003, 2007 and 2009. Other known prisoners include 21 year-old Burmese video-journalist named Sithu Zeya who after being arrested in April 2010, is currently serving an 8-year sentence for photographing the aftermath of an attack on civilians by the military junta. Another imprisoned video-journalist is 29 year-old Ngwe Soe Lin who was arrested in an internet cafe in Rangoon on April 14th, 2010 for his video coverage of Burmese children orphaned by Cyclone Nargis
Cyclone Nargis
Cyclone Nargis , was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma. The cyclone made landfall in Burma on Friday, May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 138,000 fatalities...
in 2008. Democracy activist Aye Yung
was held for trial at Insein Prison for distribution of leaflets at Dagon University
Dagon University
Dagon University , located in North Dagon, Yangon, is one of the largest universities in Myanmar. The university, established in 1993, offers bachelor's and master's degrees in liberal arts and sciences to full-time, part-time and online students. Dagon University also offers a full-time four-year...
.