The post-coup scenario in Myanmar has been marred by a persistent erosion of human rights. Since the military’s seizure of power in February 2021, the country has witnessed a sharp escalation of violence, marked by killings of the protesters and pro-democracy activists, and arbitrary arrests of the politicians, human rights defenders, pro-democracy supporters and protesters. As of July 2023, 24123 pro-democracy activists have been arbitrarily arrested, and among them, 19733 people are still detained according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). On July 25, a veteran human right activist Ko Jimmy and a former politician Phyo Zeya Thaw together with two pro-democracy activists Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw were officially executed by the junta despite the protests. This stirred an outcry from the community of human rights defenders. To avoid this type of reaction, the junta now employed a new tactic.
Reports of political prisoners gone missing during the prison transfers are alarmingly on the rise. The extrajudicial killings of political prisoners during prison transfers point towards a calculated campaign to eliminate dissenters and stifle opposition. Prisoners who have voiced continued dissent against the coup or participated in pro-democracy movements have become victims of this heinous practice. In many cases, the circumstances surrounding these killings include torture, lack of proper food, lack of medication and deliberate neglect. In a Radio Free Asia interview with Ma Nilar Thein, wife of the late Ko Jimmy, also reiterates that the junta is using a prison transfer to commit extrajudicial killings to avoid international pressure.
On August 18, 2023, AAPP released a statement on an alarming state of political prisoners being killed during the prison transfers entitled, “No More Safety: Political Prisoners’ Lives in Danger.” The statement not only records the precarious situation of the political prisoners’ lives in prison, but it also highlights the military junta’s inhumane torture and murders of the political prisoners under the pretext of prison transfers. AAPP states, “in recent months, prisoners are frequently being taken outside of prison compounds and being interrogated without anyone’s knowledge.” They are being inhumanely tortured, beaten within an inch of their life, and intentionally killed. Again, on July 19, 2023, AAPP reported the death of eight political prisoners from Daik-U Prison in Bago Region, after the families of Khant Linn Naing and Pyae Phyo Han received letters from the prison authorities on July 7 and 8. The report states that 37 political prisoners from Daik-U prison (Kyaiksakaw) went missing since June 27 and only eight of their deaths have been confirmed. AAPP also managed to confirm the deaths of six other political prisoners beside the two.
A similar case occurred on August 15, 2023, as recorded by AAPP. Over 100 political prisoners from Monywa Prison were again, forcibly transferred to Mandalay and Myingyan prisons in five military vehicles. The vehicle convoy transferring the prisoners was attacked by an explosive mine near Tadaphyu bridge near Myayne Village at the exit of Monywa. The attack resulted in the death of a CDM healthcare worker and critically injured another. Five other political prisoners were also injured, and it is unknown who was responsible for the attack on the anti-military political prisoners. Similar attack was launched on the transfer of 150 political prisoners from Monywa Prison to Myingyan Prison critically injuring two and injuring the rest.
The case of extrajudicial killings of political prisoners is a clear example of the junta’s atrocities and entrenched impunity against its dissidents. The junta’s abuse, torture, and killings of the political prisoners have not received enough international attention. Since the coup in February 2021, the right to life, the prohibition of torture, and the principles of due process are all disregarded, perpetuating an environment of impunity as the military has not been held accountable. At least 4023 people have been killed by the junta and at least 150 political prisoners have died due to poor healthcare, mistreatment, and torture, or during interrogation according to the AAPP although the real number on the ground might be higher. As usual, the international community’s action on the military has been slow and unreliable to this day.
