July 18, 2022
Reports indicate that severe torture, including head beatings, is occurring at the notorious Thayarwaddy Prison, where prison staff are said to force political prisoners to sit in a specific position in front of the wardens while regularly beating their heads. Political prisoners are subjected to this treatment regardless of the weather, whether hot or rainy, with prison guards reportedly beating their heads so severely that they lose count of the blows, claiming they will break their heads and striking them relentlessly.
Among the tortured prisoners are those suffering from health issues, and some political prisoners are reported to wear leg irons daily, causing them to experience pain and wounds without receiving any medical treatment. Even if they develop fevers, prison staff neglect to provide any medical care, indicating a total disregard for their well-being, with continuous physical abuses being reported.
Of the nine university student political prisoners transferred from Bago Prison, three were also reportedly beaten at will by prison staff, who subsequently subjected them to further abuse and torture. These nine students from Bago University are serving sentences of 12 and 13 years respectively, and the three named students, Ko Min Thu Aung, Ko Ye Htut Khaung, and Ko Zaw Win Htut, have been specifically mentioned as enduring repeated head beatings, with threats of further harm, including statements like, “We will break your heads since you are the ones who came from Bago.”
The personal belongings of prisoners transferred from Bago Prison are reportedly confiscated by prison staff, who claim that no items sent by families of the prisoners ever reach them, indicating that items preferred by the prisoners are being taken instead.
Similarly, political prisoners in Tawaye Prison, along with other detainees, have been held for an extended period without trial, as reported by local news sources, Dawei Information Center. Furthermore, female political prisoners are facing significant difficulties, with monthly supplies, personal hygiene products, and health examinations being restricted, as officials and staff within Tawaye Prison are reported to be committing human rights abuses and engaging in oppressive practices.
