The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has grave concerns for Ashin
Sandar Dika, a monk political prisoner, after learning he has been placed in solitary confinement
as a punishment for requesting adequate health care. Ahshin Sandar Dika is currently
incarcerated in Insein prison in Rangoon.
He was arrested on 11 August 2009 for waiting outside the Insein prison gates during
Daw Aung San Su Kyi’s trial. He was taken to the High Court office in Rangoon where he was
interrogated and severely tortured, resulting in a hernia and adversely affecting his long-‐term
health. He was ultimately sentenced to 2 years in prison under 295 (a) of the Penal Code for
insulting religion, and is set to be released on 11 August 2011.
There are currently at least 225 monks in prisons in Burma. “Monks considered political
are held in particular contempt by the regime. After arrest they are forcibly disrobed and
subjected to torture and harsh treatment. Some have died in detention. We do not want Ashin
Sandar Dika to follow the same fate”, said Tate Naing, Secretary of AAPP.1 His family has
expressed deep concern for his deteriorating health condition and fear the worst if he is not
released immediately.
Ahshin Sandar Dika was punished for demonstrating for his basic rights, as he has not
been provided with adequate health care while in prison. As a response, he was placed in
solitary confinement where he is more vulnerable to torture and conditions are harsher. His
family has reason to believe he has been tortured in his cell, which could have a devastating
impact on his already fragile health condition.
At least 159 political prisoners are in poor health due to the harsh prison conditions,
torture, transfers to remote prisons where there are no doctors, and the denial of proper
medical care.
1Monk Ashin Nameinda died on 8 December 2010 in Moulmein prison due to the denial of healthcare. Ashin Arnada died in prison in
January 2009. 19 monks have died in prison labour camps in Burma. in direct violation of their religious beliefs.
P.O Box 93, Mae Sot, Tak Province 63110, Thailand, e.mail:
info@aappb.org , web: www.aappb.org
“Ashin Sandar Dika’s case is emblematic of the abuse suffered by political prisoners in
Burma,” Tate Naing said. “Beaten, deprived of medical treatment, and cut off from the outside
world, they have no effective complaint mechanism to seek redress, granting prison authorities
total impunity”.
The failure by the authorities to respond to concerns raised by prisoners about their
conditions of detention, and the ongoing arbitrary use of solitary confinement is a violation of
both domestic and international laws and standards. Despite the new ‘civilian’ administration,
which came into power through a fundamentally flawed election held in November 2010, Ashin
Sandar’s case is further evidence that changes made do not signify sincere steps towards
democratic reform and national reconciliation. AAPP urges the international community to
intensify pressure on the current administration to immediately and unconditionally release all
political prisoners.
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma)
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