Over 400 political prisoners and other prisoners escaped from Lashio Prison in northern Shan State’s Lashio Town when retreating junta troops opened the prison gates on the afternoon of 29 July 2024.
The incident happened as the Myanmar National Democracy Alliance Army (MNDAA) and its allies launched an attack on the prison and the nearby junta military base.
According to former political prisoners there has been no communication with the escaped political prisoners, though a person who assists political prisoners said that efforts are being made to contact them.
He said: “The fighting occurred near the prison, prompting the political prisoners to flee for safety. I have had no contact with them so far and we are still trying to reach out. I’m waiting for calls from them.”
He added that the job of tracking down the political prisoners has been complicated because phone lines and internet services have been cut off in Lashio since 27 July, making it difficult to ascertain the whereabouts and safety of the escaped prisoners.
The prison housed more than 300 male and 100 female political prisoners from across the country, some of whom were serving life sentences, according to sources in the political prisoners’ community.
Among the escaped political prisoners was U Tun Tun Hein, a central executive of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and the vice president of Pyithu Hluttaw (Lower House), according to a BBC report. It also said that U Tun Tun Hein has now made contact with defence forces in the area, according to Mg Saung Kha, the leader of the Bamar People’s Liberation Army (BPLA), one of the defence forces fighting in Lashio.s
