October 1
In prisons across Myanmar, a total of 12 individuals have died, including 11 political prisoners and one police officer from the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), due to inadequate medical care. This tragic news was reported by Ko Thike Htun, a committee member of the Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM), stating that these deaths occurred between January 1 and September 30, 2024.
Access to essential medicines for inmates has dwindled, leading to a deteriorating health situation for political prisoners. The military regime has failed to provide adequate healthcare within prisons, which are merely nominally equipped with medical facilities. Ko Thike Htun emphasized that the prisons have become mere temporary holding areas for those who are yet to pass away.
“We urge prison authorities to ensure proper medical treatment and healthcare is provided. We also call upon the ICRC to be granted access to verify whether adequate medical care is being provided within prisons,” Ko Thike Htun stated.
In January, in the Kyauk Myaung prison, a 43-year-old prisoner named Ko Yashin, who was serving a sentence under Article 54, suffered serious internal injuries due to military violence. He died on January 12 after failing to receive adequate medical treatment. Another prisoner, Ko Phyoe Aung, aged 31, who was serving a seven-year sentence under Article 52(a), also died on January 16 due to medical negligence during an airstrike.
Similarly, in Magway prison, 22-year-old Ma Su Ma Aung, sentenced to 15 years under Article 50(b), died on January 22 from liver disease. In a juvenile prison, 45-year-old Ko Kyi Yaung, serving a 14-year sentence under Article 505(a)/52(a)/50(b), also succumbed to negligence on January 23.
In February, 35-year-old Ma Yin Mo, sentenced to six years under Article 505(a), died on February 4 due to severe illness in Mandalay Obo prison. In Daik U prison, 68-year-old U Aye Win, serving eight years under Article 505/124, also passed away.
In March, 64-year-old U Kin Soe, serving a 14-year sentence under Article 52(a) and Article 50(b), died on March 6 from injuries sustained during military operations due to insufficient medical care.
In May, 32-year-old Ko Lin Lin Htun, sentenced under Article 50(b), also died on May 11.
In July, 39-year-old Ko Yi Yi, detained under Article 52(a)/51(g), died on July 27 due to high blood pressure, and 45-year-old Ko Nay Lin Htike, also serving a sentence under Article 505(a)/52, died due to a lack of medical care in Insein prison.
In August, it was reported that a CDM police officer named Ko Myo Thu, who was in critical condition, died on August 28 due to the delay in receiving medical attention.
Furthermore, in September, 57-year-old U Than Zin, imprisoned in Thatoen prison, also died from heart disease due to the lack of medical treatment.
Currently, Myanmar’s prisons are experiencing a crisis reminiscent of a frontline battlefield, with various human rights violations occurring, including a lack of adequate medical care and facilities, which have become temporary holding areas for political prisoners before their demise, according to Ko Thike Htun from the PPNM.