Life is grim for prisoners in Myanmar, and the food is no exception. With the transfer of power to a National League for Democracy government imminent, many are hopeful that Myanmar’s remaining political prisoners will soon be free. Based on the fare served on the inside, one of the first things they’ll do when they get out is eat a decent meal.
“They give you enough to survive but that’s it,” said Ko Aung Hmaing San, who has been detained at Thayawady prison since the crackdown on student protestors and their supporters at Letpadan last March. “The food is so bad, it’s cooked badly… we need more nutrients and vitamins if we’re going to be healthy.”
Breakfast at Thayawady prison is plain congee, a flavourless gruel made from rice and water. Ko Aung Hmaing San called it “rice juice” and said the rice was of poor quality.
“At lunchtime we are treated to rice with bean soup and fish paste. The rice and the fish paste are really bad,” he added.
Meat or fish is available for non-vegetarians on Wednesdays and Sundays but dinner on other days is a watery vegetable soup containing “unidentified leaves”, he said. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
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