NLD Member Killed During Myanmar Junta Interrogation

By The Irrawaddy 26 July 2022

A member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Minglar Taung Nyunt Township, Yangon Region, has died under interrogation.

Ko Hla Htoo, 45, known as a philanthropist, was detained by police and soldiers on Saturday night at his house being accused of supporting the people’s defense forces. He was tortured to death at a military interrogation center.

He became the second NLD member to be killed by the regime last week after the party’s former lawmaker Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw was hanged along with three others over the weekend for anti-regime activism.

The regime informed Ko Hla Htoo’s family about his death on Monday and they have not been given a chance to see him.

They said Ko Hla Htoo died of a heart attack on Sunday morning and the body was cremated in the afternoon, a family source told The Irrawaddy.

“Despite having heart disease, Ko Hla Htoo was in good health when he was arrested. We don’t believe that he died of a heart attack,” he said.

Ko Hla Htoo was a sofa manufacturer and well known in Minglar Taung Nyunt Mee Ya Htar ward for his social welfare work. 

“Everyone in the ward is saddened. Some cried,” he said. 

NLD MPs, executive committee members and ordinary members are being hunted and killed, U Bo Bo Oo, an NLD lawmaker, told The Irrawaddy.

“The situation has become worse in the last three months,” he said.

U Kyaw Myint, an NLD Kantbalu Township executive branch member in Sagaing Region was killed by a pro-junta militia on July 8.

Lawmaker U Kyaw Myo Min from Bilin Township, Mon State, and party members U Pann Myint and U Ko Ko Maung were killed by the regime in June.

Approximately 917 NLD members have been detained since the 2021 coup and 216 have been released. At least 18, including a lawmaker, have died due to torture during interrogation and lack of proper medical treatment in prison, according to the NLD.