Position Statement on the Case of Indian Citizens Detained in Myanmar Who Have Completed Their Sentences but Are Still Not Released by Authorities

According to Khonumthung News on January 15, 2025, it has been revealed that some Indian citizens detained in Kalay Prison, Sagaing Region, Myanmar, have completed their prison sentences. Despite this, they remain in jail as they are unable to pay bribes demanded by prison authorities and other officials under the control of the military junta.

It is deeply disheartening to note that even after serving their full sentences and fulfilling any associated fines, junta-controlled authorities refuse to release these individuals, instead seeking bribes and offering baseless excuses. This violates basic legal principles and constitutes a severe human rights violation. As India for Myanmar, we are profoundly distressed by these actions.
Therefore, India for Myanmar strongly condemns the unlawful demands for bribes and corrupt practices by the junta authorities. We urge the Government of India to stand in solidarity with the democracy movement in Myanmar and take decisive action against the junta’s unlawful treatment of Indian citizens and the people of Myanmar.

The delay in defeating the Myanmar military coup and the failure of the democracy movement pose significant risks to both the internal and external security of India. This is a critical moment for India to fully support the people of Myanmar. Such cooperation will benefit both nations by contributing to the restoration of peace, political stability, and the establishment of a new federal state in Myanmar. We urge the Government of India to work collaboratively with Myanmar’s resistance groups to achieve these shared goals.

India for Myanmar

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