Conflicts & War

Myanmar junta bans prison visits after parcel bomb attack

Bangkok, Oct 21 (EFE).- Myanmar’s junta said Friday that it has banned family visits to several prisons after a parcel bomb blast mid-week caused eight deaths in the country’s largest prison.

“Family visits will not be permitted. But delivery of parcels (to prisoners) will be allowed after being strictly checked,” junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun told EFE.

The spokesperson said that the measures will be enforced immediately without specifying how many prisons will be affected or for how long.

At least eight people were killed and 18 injured on Wednesday after a bomb placed in a package detonated in the mailroom of Insein prison, which houses most of the political prisoners arrested since the military coup.

Three jail staff and five visitors died in the explosion and another 18 were injured, including 13 civilians and five prison officials, the military said after the incident.

The junta attributed the attack to a little-known group known as The Special Task Agency of Burma, which it described as a “terrorist”, in a statement sent to EFE.

It also blamed the self-proclaimed National Unity Government (NUG), made up of politicians and activists opposed to the junta, for “attacks on civilians.”

Since the military overthrew the democratic government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on Feb. 1, 2021, groups opposed to the junta have chosen to take up arms against the army.

The NUG, which is loyal to Suu Kyi, has created its own armed forces, which usually operate in border areas controlled by ethnic militias or where there is strong opposition to the regime.

In addition, other small armed groups that also stage attacks against soldiers have emerged. EFE

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