A report said that the lockup houses 20 accused and if their relatives want to meet them, they have to pay Kyat 10,000 to the police as bribe. If they want to give the prisoners some food or other items they have to give it to the police authorities first.

"We have to pay Kyat 10,000 to the duty officer if we want to meet the accused. If we take some curries they will eat it first," said a relative of an accused.

Relatives are allowed to speak to the accused for just 30 minutes. The guards are always standing and watching while relatives meet the prisoners. There is no permission to meet political prisoners without praying to the authorities or getting the favour of Senior General Than Shwe...

"I can meet my relative, who is on trial, in the prison by giving Kyat 10,000 to the authorities, but I cannot talk freely as the guards are watching us and tell us to hurry up. It is very frustrating for us," said a local.

He added that political prisoners are ordered to submit a prayer to Senior General Than Shwe and they have to confess and repent for their wicked deeds. It tantamounts to treating Than Shwe as God.

The same pattern of giving bribe to prison authorities exists in the whole country but higher authorities ignore this kind of illegal activities as they also demand bribe from their own staff. Khonumthung News