Political prisoners beaten in Pyay Prison, as another dies in Mandalay

Five political prisoners sustained injuries after being beaten in Bago Region’s Pyay Prison on Sunday, while another died in Mandalay’s Obo Prison earlier this month after being denied medical care, according to an advocacy group.The incident at Pyay Prison occurred after a political prisoner was assaulted by the prison’s canteen supervisor, sparking a protest by other political detainees who were then attacked by a group of criminal convicts, Thike Tun Oo, spokesperson for the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM), told Myanmar Now.“[Prison authorities] created the appearance of a conflict between prisoners by having the convicts start a fight instead of beating the political prisoners directly. But behind the scenes, prison officials were involved,” he said.An official named Tayza Win was identified as the instigator of the attack, which was carried out using bamboo and wooden sticks, according to Thike Tun Oo.One of the prisoners suffered a head injury that required medical attention, while the canteen supervisor and two criminal prisoners have been shackled and placed in solitary confinement, he added.The five injured prisoners were all serving sentences for political offences, including incitement and unlawful association, PPNM reported.On February 10, another political prisoner died after nearly four years of detention in Mandaly’s Obo Prison. San Yi, 65, had been receiving inadequate care for multiple conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, and liver disease, according to PPNM.“Prison authorities are responsible for those in their custody, so they should be held accountable. Insufficient healthcare is something all prisoners face to some degree,” said Thike Tun Oo.At least five political detainees are known to have died since the beginning of the year in various locations around the country, including Mandalay, Myaungmya, Thayarwaddy, and Kalay, data compiled by PPNM shows. The deaths were all the result of poor healthcare, the group said.Late last year, LGBTI+ activist and political prisoner Bhon Bhon died of kidney disease while being held by police in the Sagaing Region capital Monywa. His requests to receive treatment for his condition were repeatedly denied, PPNM reported at the time. According to sources at Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison, three prisoners being held there, including Myanmar Now photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike, have been subjected to daily beatings since January for exposing human rights violations.“They were beaten every day, tortured, and forced to do hard labour. Their access to letters from family members was also cut off. Even now, they are still being questioned, punished, and beaten,” a source told Myanmar Now earlier this week.There are currently 21,915 people still in detention for opposing the military coup that overthrew Myanmar’s elected civilian government in February 2021, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).Since seizing power, the regime has also killed at least 6,348 civilians involved in pro-democracy activities, the AAPP says on its website.

Political prisoners beaten in Pyay Prison, as another dies in Mandalay

At least five political prisoners have died in custody so far this year due to poor medical treatment, according to an advocacy group

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