Yangon prisoners shot dead during cyclone, group claims (Extra)

May 5, 2008, 13:41 GMT

Yangon - Cyclone Nargis that devastated central Myanmar over the weekend, killing almost 4,000 people, also triggered a crackdown on prisoners in Yangon's infamous Insein jail, leaving 36 dead, a political prisoners' rights group claimed Monday.

The cyclone, packing winds of 190 kilometres per hour, hit Yangon and much of central Myanmar Friday night, leaving some 3,930 dead and 2,879 missing as of Monday, a state-run Myanmar radio station said in an evening broadcast.

Yangon, Myanmar's largest and most populous city, had its infrastructure devastated by the storm, that killed at least 19 in the former capital, according to ofrficial figures.

And another 36 died in Insein Prison in a cyclone-related incident, according to Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Burma, a Thailand-based non-governmental organization.

AAPPB said the cyclone hit Insein Prison Friday night, ripping off many of the ancient institution's zinc roofs.

About 1,000 of the prisoners congregated inside main prison hall to seek safety, and were locked inside the hall.

Seeking to keep warm, some of the prisoners reportedly started a fire, which spread and caused a panic, said AAPPB, citing reports from families of the prisoners.

Soldiers and riot police were called in to quell the situation and opened fire on the prisoners, killing 36 and wounding another 70.

'It was merciless and unnecessary actions to shoot. We would like to have an independent investigation on that matter,' said Tate Naing, a spokesman for AAPPB.

None of the dead were political prisoners, he added.

Insein is one of Myanmar's most notorious prisons, and a common venue for political prisoners.