They Call It ‘Insane’: Where Myanmar Sends Political Prisoners

The New York Times

Richard C. Paddock
Published May 29, 2021Updated May 30, 2021
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Insein prison in Yangon, Myanmar, in 2020. It became infamous for its harsh conditions and the torture of prisoners during a half-century of military dictatorship.Credit...Ye Aung Thu/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

For 134 years, Insein Prison has stood as a monument to brutality. Since the Feb. 1 coup, journalists, elected leaders and pro-democracy protesters have been held in the aging facility.

The prison was already packed, its population more than double its 5,000-person capacity. Recent prisoners include two American journalists and an Australian economic adviser. Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters have also been crammed in, some with fresh gunshot wounds.