Thirty-one political prisoners, including 15 women, were beaten and placed in solitary confinement in Bago Region’s Tharyarwaddy Prison for commemorating Martyrs’ Day, according to groups that monitor political prisoners in Myanmar.
The 15 women were removed from group cells and placed in solitary confinement for wearing black ribbons on Martyrs’ Day, said Ko Thaik Tun Oo, a spokesperson for the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar.
All 15 have been kept in solitary confinement since that day, said Ko Thaik Tun Oo, who is a former political prisoner.
He said the 16 male political prisoners were beaten and then placed in solitary confinement for saluting fallen heroes on Martyrs’ Day, which falls on July 19.
“We received reports that men were beaten once they were taken out of their dormitories and females were beaten when they arrived in solitary confinement,” Ko Thaik Tun Oo said.
His network received the reports from inmates released from Tharyarwaddy Prison following the junta’s pardon on August 1.
The reports from newly released inmates follow a report in early June that said torture of political prisoners was on the rise in Myanmar.
A National League for Democracy (NLD) youth member, Ko Than Toe Aung, and three other male prisoners were so severely injured during their assaults that they had to be transferred to the prison’s hospital, Ko Thaik Tun Oo said.
Ko Than Toe Aung, a member of the NLD youth affairs committee in Yangon Region’s Thanhlyin Township, sustained head injuries and his condition is alarming, the Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar said. He lost consciousness while he was being assaulted and sustained a life-threatening brain injury, a source close to the prison’s staff said.
Four of the 15 female political prisoners required medical treatment as a result of the physical attacks on them, Ko Thaik Tun Oo said.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) also received reports that political prisoners had been placed in solitary confinement at Tharyarwaddy Prison. It confirmed that the female political prisoners were placed in solitary confinement for wearing black ribbons on Martyrs’ Day.
“Besides being put into solitary confinement, we also heard they were tortured,” an AAPP spokesperson said, adding that the condition of the prisoners remains unknown.
Most of the 15 female political prisoners placed in solidarity confinement are in their 20s, but one is 54 years old.
They are: Ma Hnin Lae Nandar Lwin, Ma Shune Ei Phyu, Ma Nilar Sein, Ma Su Yee Paing, Ma Wutt Yee Lwin, Ma Aye Thida Kyaw, Ma Yi Yi Swe, Ma Lwin Lwin Nyunt, Ma Sandi Nyunt Win, Ma Aye Thet San, Ma Shwe Yee Nyunt, Ma Yamin Htet, Ma Htoo Htet Htet Wai, Ma Myoo Thandar Htun and Ma Moe Myat Thazin.
“Martyrs’ Day is celebrated all over the country,” the AAPP spokesperson said, adding: “How much harm does it do to wear a ribbon on that day?”
“Now they [the junta] are even scared of [Martyrs’ Day], and cruelly oppress those participate in it,” the spokesperson added.
Tharyarwaddy Prison holds about 2,000 political prisoners. It is notorious for assaults on and torture of political prisoners, including during prison transfers.
“The junta deliberately oppresses and tortures political prisoners for revenge. We have been informed about severe human rights violations and torture in every prison,” the AAPP spokesperson said.
The Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar and the AAPP said they are deeply concerned about political prisoners kept in solitary confinement because their condition is unknowable.
Myanmar celebrates Martyrs’ Day on July 19 every year to mark the assassination of independence hero General Aung San—the father of the jailed leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi—and eight colleagues in 1947. This year, the civilian National Unity Government (NUG) and its armed wing, the People’s Defense Forces, commemorated the day to honor General Aung San and eight colleagues as well as those killed in the ongoing anti-regime Spring Revolution.
The junta, however, downgraded Martyrs’ Day from a state-level event and barred jailed civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from the ceremony. She has not been allowed to attend the annual event for the three years since the February 2021 coup.
