A/HRC/6/14
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44. During his visit to GTI the Special Rapporteur was informed by the police that
from 27 September to 15 October, security forces took 1,930 demonstrators there (under
responsibility of the Yangon Community since July 2007) out of which 80 persons were sent to
Insein prison as violators of the security laws. The others were reportedly immediately released.
He was presented with a detailed map indicating the detention rooms (women and men were
separated) which he visited. He was informed that GTI, which is no longer a technical college,
was planned as a shelter in case of emergency (in coordination with the Red Cross of Myanmar).
While GTI could only host 1,500 persons at a time, Government officials informed him that
2,500 blankets were made available; 488 persons had reportedly been sick under the
responsibility of 5 doctors and 15 nurses; and 5 persons were transferred to the General Hospital
for urgent treatment. The Special Rapporteur visited the rooms where 153 women and 140 men
had been detained (70 per room). One hundred police officers had ensured security. The Special
Rapporteur was told information on the injuries and investigations of the detainees was
classified.
45. The Special Rapporteur also welcomed the access provided to No. 7 Police Battalion
Control Command Headquarters in Kyauktan, Thanlyin, located around 60 km from Yangon. It
was reported that those brought here were being moved in and out, as it had a maximum capacity
of 30 at a time. The facility is under the control of the Security Force Battalion of Southern
District Township, their main activity being VIP escort for embassies, security in Nay Pyi Taw
and working along the border areas. The Special Rapporteur asked about their participation in
law enforcement activities, to which they noted that they were responsible for receiving those
detainees sent by other security forces. He further asked why the suspects were brought to such
an isolated and remote area, in response to which he was told that the facility covers Yangon
downtown area. The authorities noted that those involved in the demonstrations were to be
separated, interrogated and investigated. When asked by whom the detainees were interrogated
the authorities noted that this was not a place for interrogations, but only investigations. There
were reportedly no wounded and all the people brought to Kyauktan had been transferred back,
although it was not specified where. Despite his request, the Special Rapporteur was not granted
access to the records, which were to be cleared by the Minister for Home Affairs and Police
Chief.
46. The Special Rapporteur was informed that 10,000 prisoners are detained in Insein prison,
managed by 500 guards, with 70 detainees reportedly placed in a separate building. Prisoners do
receive visits from friends and family members, medicine, parcels and newspapers but are only
allowed to write letters. Most prisoners need medical care and are in poor health due to the
prison environment. Many of the 88 Generation Students are weak and can barely walk. The
Special Rapporteur noted that most political prisoners from the NLD and the 88 Generation
Group, as well as the monks, are labelled as terrorists by the authorities and had been prosecuted
on the basis of the security law. Many political prisoners are in the so-called Insein Annex
Dormitory 5 Building where not even prison guards are allegedly allowed access (70 detainees
are in cell No. 8). The Special Rapporteur was provided with commercial satellite pictures of the
place. Min Ko Naing was reportedly placed in the Annex a day before the Special Rapporteur’s
arrival at the Insein prison. Others in this dormitory are Htay Kywe, Min Zeya, Mie Mie,
Mya Aye, Aung Thu, Ko Ko Gyi, Aung Naing, U Pyi Kyaw and U Zin Payit.
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