US demands access to Myanmar's prisoners amid brutality claims

Myanmese activists shout slogans during a protest in the northern outskirts of the capital Yangon, August 2007. The United States demanded Tuesday that Myanmar's military junta allow international access to prisoners following reports that many arrested pro-democracy protestors have been brutally beaten.

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WASHINGTON (AFP) — The United States demanded Tuesday that Myanmar's military junta allow international access to prisoners following reports that many arrested pro-democracy protestors have been brutally beaten.

More than 150 Myanmar citizens have been detained as the military launched a violent crackdown on a rare string of anti-government protests, which erupted on August 19 in anger at a large hike in fuel prices.

"We are concerned for (their) well-being," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, referring to the jailed protestors.

"Multiple reports indicate that many of these protestors have been brutally beaten and interrogated," he said in a statement.

The United States, he said, called on the junta "to allow access to prisoners by international humanitarian organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross."

Washington also renewed its call for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

Its military generals, who have ruled since 1962, do not tolerate even the slightest show of public dissent.

Among the latest detainees was Min Ko Naing, considered Myanmar's most prominent pro-democracy leader after detained opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

Min Ko Naing and 12 activists were sent to Myanmar's notorious Insein prison in northern Yangon, home to some of the nation's estimated 1,100 political prisoners. Rights groups say torture is rampant at Insein.

Amnesty International said the new detainees were "at risk of torture and other ill-treatment, which is commonly reported during interrogation and pre-trial detention in Myanmar."

"The authorities should also ensure that none are tortured or ill-treated in detention, and provide medical care for those injured during the violent break-up of demonstrations," the rights group said earlier this month.

Several of the detained protesters had launched a hunger strike to demand medical treatment for a colleague whose leg was broken when he was arrested after a protest on August 28.

They ended the hunger strike last week after the victim was finally granted treatment.