Satellite Data Said to Uncover Major Expansion of Myanmar Prisons Since Coup

Images sourced from Google Earth of Monywa Prison in Sagaing Region, from 2020 and 2023 show new buildings and expanded perimeters marked in yellow and red boxes, respectively, by Myanmar Witness. Images sourced from Google Earth from 2021, 2022 and 2023 show the development of a new prison Mawlamyine, Mon State, in this image provided by Myanmar Witness.

Myanmar’s military regime has undertaken a major expansion of the country’s prison system since toppling an elected government three years ago, according to new analysis of satellite data, amid a bloody civil war and crackdown on pro-democracy activists.