More than 20 political prisoners have been killed by Myanmar’s junta this year, according to the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM).
Around 10 political prisoners were tortured to death this year, Ko Thaik Tun Oo of the PPNM told The Irrawaddy.
Around 12 political prisoners died due to insufficient medical care in Daik-U, Kyaikmaraw, Insein, Obo, Magwe, Kale, Thayet, Pyay and Thaton prisons, a PPNM statement on Tuesday said.
U Aye Win, 68, U Khin Soe, 64, and Ko Lin Lin Tun, 32, were killed in Daik-U prison, Ko Rashin, 43, and Ko Pyae Phyo Aung, 31, died in Kyaikmaraw prison.
Ma Su May Aung, 22, died in Magwe prison, Ko Kyiya Aung, 45, at Kale prison, Ma Yin Moe, 35, in Obo, Ko Nyi Nyi, 39, in Thayet, Ko Nay Lin Htike, 45, in Insein, Ko Myo Thu, in Pyay and U Thant Zin, 57, in Thaton prison.
The PPNM said prison hospitals were temporary shelters where political prisoners were sent before they died.
In August, well-known documentary filmmaker, Pe Maung Sein, died of tuberculosis, three days after being transferred to a hospital from Yangon’s Insein prison.
“Political prisoners did not get the right medicine even while suffering from fatal diseases. They were all only given paracetamol,” Ko Thaik Tun Oo said.
The prisons confiscated medicines sent by families and refused access to public hospitals for security reasons.
In 2023, 16 political prisoners were killed and 17 died after being denied treatment, Ko Thaik Tun Oo told The Irrawaddy.
Since the 2021 coup, at least 101 political prisoners have died due to insufficient medical treatment, according to a late August joint statement by six organizations, including the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Former Political Prisoners Society, PPNM and Women’s Organization of Political Prisoners.
