SITTWE: Authorities are looking into the Sittwe prison riot that happened on October 6, said Police Lt-Col Maung Maung Soe from the Rakhine State Police Force.
Some prisoners attacked an officer and a staff member when they went to summon prisoner Kyaw Kyaw over a drug-related issue in the prison. No prisoners were hurt during the riot, said the police Lt-Col.
“The prison authorities informed us about it in the morning. The prisoners wanted to demand something. We went to the prison to provide security. The prison officials called forth Kyaw Kyaw to be interrogated, but he refused to come with them. They got into a quarrel and the prisoners attacked the officials. An officer and a staff member sustained minor injuries.
“Some prisoners raised some issues they had and the prison officials negotiated with them. Officials from the Correctional Department and the prison warden also held negotiations with the prisoners. Police Brig-Gen Mya Win invited the prisoners to come to the meeting room at 1.45pm. The six representatives, led by prisoner Aung Kyaw Thein, came to the meeting room.
“The dispute was settled and they went back to their rooms around 4pm. They demanded improvements to their living conditions in the prison. Officials from the Correctional Department came to investigate the cause of the riot,” he said.
The prisoner who started the riot may be subject to action under the rules and regulations of the prison. More than 1,000 prisoners are living in the prison, but there were no complaints from the prisoners that the prison was overcrowded.
He continued to assure the public that there was no need for further worry as the riot had been contained and quelled. - Eleven Media/ANN
