Glue
Glue
“In Burma, political prisoners are often sentenced under vaguely defined legal provisions related primarily to security and public order, giving authorities a very broad scope for interpretation. Prison conditions in Burma fall far short of international standards. Food, water, and medical care are insufficient; political prisoners are often held away from their families. Many have been subjected to torture and other forms of mistreatment, including prolonged solitary confinement.”*1
The punishment for striking in prison is meted out through food. The prisoner receives one meal a day, which consists of two or three tablespoons of “GLUE.”
Ingredients:
- 50 g of rice
- 1 liter of water
- A pinch of salt (optional)
Prisoners receive one teaspoon of salt per week. Salt corrodes metal, so too much of it could enable prisoners to destroy bars and escape. However, in the hot climate of Burma, this amount of salt is insufficient. Salt retains water in the body and is essential for survival. *2
Preparation:
- Place the rice in a pot and cover with water.
- Cook covered on low heat for 1-1.15 hours, stirring occasionally. The rice should turn into a porridge and absorb all the water.
- Add salt to taste before serving, or omit it if desired.
Notable Political Prisoners:
- Aung San Suu Kyi – Politician, pro-democracy activist
- Min Ko Naing – Pro-democracy activist
- Saw Wai – Poet
- Sao Shwe Thaik – Shan saopha, first president of independent Burma
- Soe – Founder of the Burma Communist Party, one of the thakins
- Than Tun – Activist in the communist movement and guerrilla warfare, one of the thakins
- Tin Oo – Former general of the Burmese army, pro-democracy activist
- Zarangar – Comedian, detained in June 2008 for his humanitarian work for the victims of Cyclone Nargis
- Wa Lone (b. 1986) – Myanmar children’s book author and investigative journalist, along with Kyaw Soe Oo – Reuters employees, detained in December 2017 while investigating the massacre of 10 members of the Rohingya ethnic group in Arakan (Rakhine) state in western Burma. They were honored with the Pulitzer Prize – one of the most prestigious journalism awards in the world.
1 Amnesty International
2 Notes from interviews with a member of AAPPB (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma), a former political prisoner. Year 2012.
