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Malaysia and other countries should seize the chance to reverse the trend of prison overcrowding, promote restorative justice, rehabilitate prisoners, and change societies’ mindsets. Please increase the size of your window. Risk-mitigation strategies such as enhanced cleaning protocols and hygiene, efficient COVID-19 testing, and access to vaccination programs are vital to tackling the pandemic in prisons. China and ASEAN countries need to remove distractions and press ahead with consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and … Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said no countries were as concerned about the situation in Myanmar, and had a stronger desire to see the resumption and maintenance of peace and stability, than China and ASEAN, adding that ASEAN member Myanmar has friendly ties with China. Will Myanmar’s Uprising Succeed This Time? In September 2020, an initially small COVID-19 cluster, centred around the Lahad Datu police headquarters and Tawau prison on the island of Borneo, quickly exploded into the biggest cluster of Malaysia’s second COVID-19 wave, infecting 1,146 people. The cancellation comes amid concerns among the Myanmar public that such a visit would be tantamount to recognizing the military government. The mission of the Japan Foundation is to promote international cultural exchange and … Instead, the COVID-19 crisis could offer a much-needed second chance to those behind bars – as well as to those in power. On Wednesday, however, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry said it had canceled the trip. According to the World Prison Brief, at least 118 countries have exceeded their maximum occupancy rate. Similarly, the Malaysian government has announced a scheme to release about 11,108 prisoners. But the power to act resides with the minister of home affairs, and despite pronouncements made, so far only 500 prisoners are known to have been released. Chinese state-owned media reported that China is ready to conduct close coordination with the bloc to de-escalate the situation in its southern neighbor. For example, the Prison Department established a partnership with Microsoft and local non-profit organisations to develop a digital-skills program for juvenile prisoners, enabling young offenders to acquire valuable information-technology know-how while serving their sentences. She promised that ASEAN would help Myanmar find a way out of the current situation and advance inclusive democratic processes in Myanmar. The pandemic has led to the release of a significant number of prisoners in some countries, including Indonesia (39,000), Turkey (45,000) and Iran (70,000). Several projects in Malaysia have shown promise. We do not encourage viewing this site in this width. Other than release through the Licensed Release of Prisoners mechanism, prisoners are also being absorbed into rehabilitation centres, where, with private-sector support, they will receive training in construction, carpentry and plantation work. He called on Myanmar’s military and political parties to take responsibility for the country’s stability and development, while expressing hope that all players would act in the country’s long-term interests. Mechanisms such as release on license, work-release schemes, home leave, and counselling programs all crucially depend on successful rehabilitation – in line with the Prison Department’s official mandate of “spearheading correctional support.”. Adopting a rehabilitative, rather than retributive, approach to prison management effectively breaks the cycle of poverty, cruelty, and violence that often leads to imprisonment in the first place. It is a form of human association distinguished from other social groups by its purpose, the creation of order and security; its methods, the laws and their enforcement; its … As of December 2020, 1,160 of Malaysia’s 66,791 prisoners were infected, along with 125 prison staff and family members. In January 2021, the COVID-19 crisis prompted members of Malaysia’s parliament from across the political spectrum, including me, to establish the first All Party Parliamentary Group (APPGM) on Reform of Prisons and Detention Places. / The Irrawaddy, Nan Lwin is Senior Reporter at the English edition of The Irrawaddy. Above all, policymakers should couple immediate prisoner releases with coordinated training and support programs to prevent recidivism and re-incarceration. Prison-related infection clusters in Malaysia and elsewhere appear to share one common cause: overcrowding. “The continuing turbulence in Myanmar is neither in the interests of Myanmar and its people, nor in the common interests of other regional countries,” Wang said. 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And in the current third wave, at least 23 of the country’s prisons have reported a disproportionately high rate of COVID-19 infections. Moreover, to reduce systemic overcrowding, the Malaysia Prison Department has, since 2019, wanted to release on parole at least 75 percent of the country’s 22,000 eligible inmates. Countries with prison systems that focus strongly on rehabilitation, such as Norway and Sweden, boast some of the world’s lowest recidivism rates. Norway, for example, applies “restorative justice,” which seeks to remedy the harm caused by the crime. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Jakarta and other ASEAN member countries proposed holding an informal meeting, and hoped that China would support it. Today, around the world, people are on the move. She promised that ASEAN would help Myanmar find a way out of the current situation and advance inclusive democratic processes in … Trapped behind bars, prisoners are helpless to protect themselves from outbreaks of both mild and severe infections, ranging from the common flu and scabies to tuberculosis and now COVID-19. Instead, ASEAN leaders are likely to support the plans of the new military regime, which has no interest whatsoever in adhering to democratic norms. Please fill in the Proposal Form and submit it to the ASEAN IVO Secretariat. Wang said this would allow Myanmar’s problems to be solved peacefully and within constitutional and legal frameworks, and the let country’s democratic transition proceed in an orderly manner. The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 by special legislation in the Japanese Diet and became an Incorporated Administrative Agency in October 2003. Similarly, in Sweden, rehabilitation centres on the need to treat inmates “like human beings, not like criminals,” which has resulted in the closure of many prisons across the country. On Feb. 1, the military staged a coup and detained national civilian leaders including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior NLD members, citing alleged electoral fraud. Improving prison infrastructure and upgrading medical facilities are necessary steps, but need time, planning, and additional resources. Such congested environments, with poor sanitation and overstretched medical facilities, are hotbeds of communicable disease. Inmates are given opportunities to train and learn new skills in a supportive environment, with prison officers acting as role models and mentors. Discover a new way to experience National Geographic Live with virtual events featuring our world-renowned Explorers. According to a letter from the Myanmar Ministry of Transport, Retno was expected to arrive in Myanmar on Thursday to discuss ASEAN’s stand on the military coup. All Rights Reserved. ASEAN IVO -- Call for Proposals 2021 is now open to all members of ASEAN IVO to make new projects in the ICT field starting from April 2021. Myanmar military regime-appointed Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin flew to Bangkok on Wednesday to meet Retno following the cancellation of her trip. Following the reports, a large crowd gathered in front of the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon on Tuesday, demanding Jakarta not back the junta’s plan to hold a new election, and that it recognize the results of the Nov. 8 vote. PANO - The Ministry of National Defense held a ceremony on March 12 to present the State President’s decision on sending Lieutenant Colonel Tran Duc Huong from the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations to undertake a mission at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Encouragingly, the Malaysian government’s joint committee on vaccine procurement has announced its intention to include high-risk groups such as prisoners among the first cohorts to be vaccinated – one of the APPGM’s top priorities. Few good things will come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has now killed more than 2.2 million people worldwide. Nurul Izzah Anwar is a member of the Malaysian parliament. More than 100 People Injured During Myanmar Military's Crackdowns in Mandalay, Myanmar Hackers Take Down Military-Run Websites, People Line Up at Myanmar Military-Run Bank to Withdraw Cash for Second Day, Ambassador Tries to Calm Anti-China Feeling in Myanmar Following Coup, Military Regime Issues Arrest Warrants for 17 Elected MPs for Incitement, Anti-coup protesters stage a sit-in protest in front of the Indonesian Embassy on Wednesday, demanding Jakarta stop backing the military regime's plan to hold a new election. But a pandemic can be an opportunity to right systemic wrongs. ASEAN is unlikely to stand together with the people of Myanmar as they courageously and rightly protest against the military dictatorship. Digital Media Nusantara @ 2021 All Rights Reserved. In September 2020, an initially small COVID-19 cluster, centred around the Lahad Datu police headquarters and Tawau prison on the island of Borneo, quickly exploded into the biggest cluster of Malaysia’s second COVID-19 wave, infecting 1,146 people. State, political organization of society, or the body politic, or, more narrowly, the institutions of government. By the first week of 2021, Malaysia’s overall caseload had doubled, with new prison clusters occasionally accounting for up to 20 percent of daily new cases. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said Jakarta and other ASEAN member countries proposed holding an informal meeting, and hoped that China would support it. Longstanding systemic challenges reflect chronic underfunding and policy neglect. Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide victory in Myanmar’s general election on Nov. 8. Women represent almost half of the 244 million migrants and half of the 19.6 million refugees worldwide We are duty bound to protect the dignity of all human lives, and ensure that incarceration during a pandemic is not tantamount to a death sentence. The Irrawaddy's senior reporter, Copyright © 2016 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. But prison overcrowding renders other pandemic-mitigation measures – especially physical distancing – almost impossible. 02438201 - fax 0243822901 OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS: PIME Rome via Pineta Sacchetti 55 - 00167 Rome tel. AFoCO showcased the history and cooperation model in the forest sector at the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit held on 25-27 November 2019 at Busan. The anti-coup protesters held placards reading “ASEAN Respect our Vote,” “We don’t need another election,” “We want our elected government back” and “We don’t accept Indonesia’s action plan.” Later, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry denied the report and announced that it respected the Myanmar people’s wishes. Decarceration, or early release, then becomes just about the only option for managing overcrowding and rapid COVID-19 transmission in prison. As a result, 100 young inmates were admitted to university programs, leading to their early release. REGISTERED OFFICE: PIME Milan via Monte Rosa 81 - 20149 Milan tel. (AFP Photo). The COVID-19 pandemic has not only highlighted systemic inequities, but also provided governments with an opportunity to change their approaches to tackling them. Motorists pass by Bali's Kerobokan prison on 3 November, 2020 where hundreds of prisoners have fallen ill with COVID-19. Plans and targets notwithstanding, policymakers often do too little too late on prison reform. 0658320223 - fax 0658157756 But one possible silver lining could be serious prison reform – including in Malaysia. However, many in Myanmar remain skeptical of ASEAN’s stance and large numbers of protesters gathered outside the embassy for a second day on Wednesday. YANGON—The Chinese foreign minister said Beijing supports efforts by ASEAN to ease the situation in Myanmar during a phone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart, amid growing anger among Myanmar people toward ASEAN’s largest nation due to reports that it backs the coup leaders’ plan to hold a new election. Indonesia faced condemnation from Myanmar people after reports emerged that it had been pushing other ASEAN nations to agree to an action plan that included keeping the military to its promise to hold a “fair and inclusive” new election. For ASEAN, however, it’s a case of history repeating itself. Overcrowding, on the other hand, can be solved relatively efficiently with available means. They are migrating to escape poverty, improve their livelihood and opportunities, or escaping conflict and devastation in their own countries.