Myanmar: Tharyarwaddy Prison a Hub of Torture, Forced Labor, and Starvation

Since the February 2021 military coup, Myanmar’s State Administration Council (SAC) has arbitrarily detained thousands of political opponents, pro-democracy activists, and civilians on fabricated or politically motivated charges. More than 3,900 detainees, including many political prisoners, transferred from other facilities such as the notorious Insein, Hpa-An, and Pyay prisons, are currently held at Tharyarwaddy.

Information obtained by OMCT from a source with direct access to current and former detainees reveals a widespread and systematic pattern of torture, ill-treatment, and deliberate deprivation of basic necessities. Detainees have recounted the use of a coercive system of punishment and indoctrination known as Pone San (Stress Pose), a ritual rooted in Myanmar's penal system's hierarchical structure whereby detainees are required to adopt particular bodily postures to demonstrate respect. This practice, primarily targeting political prisoners, is routinely accompanied by deprivation of food, shackling, beating, and denial of food, medical assistance, and sanitary necessities. In some cases, prisoners are held in stress positions for hours or days at a time. Women face ongoing threats of sexual harassment and are frequently subjected to punitive solitary confinement without access to water or sanitation.

From February 2021 to December 2024, at least three prisoners died in custody as a direct result of physical abuse and the systematic denial of medical assistance. Dozens more have suffered lasting physical and mental harm due to beatings, unsanitary conditions, and untreated illnesses. Despite the severity of these conditions, prison authorities continue to act with impunity, routinely denying medical assistance even in urgent cases.

Tharyarwaddy prison lacks basic healthcare infrastructure. The facility has no functional medical ward, no resident doctor, and faces a chronic shortage of medicines. Detainees with serious medical conditions are regularly denied timely access to external healthcare facilities, or face prolonged and burdensome procedures to obtain permission for transfer. Furthermore, the full cost of treatment is borne by detainees and their families, making adequate treatment effectively inaccessible for most.

Inadequate food provision further compounds these health risks. Inmates are fed nutrient-deficient meals consisting primarily of overly polished rice, devoid of vitamin B1. Protein intake is minimal while the so-called daily soup is little more than coloured water. As a result, nutritional deficiencies and related diseases are frequently reported.

Testimonies highlight frequent outbreaks of preventable diseases including tuberculosis, hepatitis, and dysentery—fueled by overcrowded cells, contaminated water sources, and lack of sanitation. Despite having basic filtration systems, the water provided remains visibly contaminated and unfit for consumption. Toilets are inadequately maintained and lack essential cleaning materials, leaving detainees exposed to high risks of infection. Worm infestations are common, yet no deworming measures are in place, despite obvious need.

Compounding these violations is the imposition of forced labor under grossly hazardous conditions. Detainees are made to carry out agricultural work using untreated sewage—water contaminated with human faeces, urine, menstrual blood, food waste, and other biological waste draining directly from both male and female wards. This deliberate and sustained exposure to biohazards puts prisoners at constant risk of skin infections, parasitic diseases, and severe gastrointestinal diseases.

Extortion is also routine. Prison authorities demand money from detainees to cover everything from basic necessities to facility maintenance. Those unable or unwilling to pay face violent punishment, food deprivation, or prolonged isolation. These practices reflect a broader pattern of abuse and institutional corruption, sustained by a total absence of accountability.

The Myanmar military regime continues to block independent access to detention facilities and systematically suppresses information. Human rights organisations and independent experts have not been granted access to the country, and survivors and families who speak out face threats and reprisals. As a result, the full extent of abuses inside Tharyarwaddy prison and other facilities remains largerly underreported, while those responsible continue to operate without consequences.

OMCT reiterates its urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Myanmar. Sanctions must be imposed on prison officials and junta members responsible for or complicit in acts of torture and other serious violations. Diplomatic pressure must also be intensified to ensure that human rights organisations and independent experts are granted access to detention sites. An independent, international investigation into conditions of detention and the widespread use of torture is also imperative. The international community must ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and that Myanmar’s prisons are no longer used as a tool of state terror and repression.