Urgent Statement: More Extrajudicial Killings from Daik-U Prison

Date: July 19, 2023

On June 27, 2023, 37 political prisoners from Daik-U (Kyaiksakaw) Prison went missing. Thereafter, on July 7 and 8, a Daik-U Prison Officer sent letters to the families of Khant Linn Naing (aka Ko Khant, aka Let Wel) and Pyae Phyo Hein (aka Ko Pyae) to inform them they had died on June 27. In response to these letters, our organization, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), released a statement on July 10.

AAPP has increasingly been documenting letters being sent to the families of these missing political prisoners informing them of their deaths. This is not only an act of extrajudicial murder upon political prisoners, but severe psychological torture against family members of the political prisoners in question.

Of all the political prisoners who went missing on June 27, 2023, AAPP has been able to confirm the deaths of the following prisoners, along with Khant Linn Naing, son of Than Soe Naing, and Pyae Phyo Hein, son of Kyaw Oo, as of today:

1. Yar Lay (aka Zin Myint Tun), son of Myint Thein
2. Jar Gyi (aka Wai Yan Lwin), son of Aye Lwin
3. Zin Win Htut (aka Ba La Gyi, aka Ta Yote Gyi), son of Pyant Maw
4. Aung Myo Thu, son of Maung Sein
5. Bo Bo Win (aka Htan Taw Gyi)
6. Nay Aye (aka Arkar Htet Paing Myo), son of Myo Linn

Moreover, the number of people who have lately been killed from torture during interrogation following arbitrary arrest, being burned alive due to military attacks into towns and villages, and other deaths inside prisons, is rapidly increasing.

The killings by the junta of people in flagrant disregard of human life is an act that should challenge the domestic and international pillars of justice.

In regards to the deaths that occurred within prison and interrogation, AAPP Secretary U Tate Naing has said, “In the recent days, we have been hearing quite frequently about the deaths taking place inside prisons. Two political prisoners in Daik-U Prison, Aung Soe Moe (aka Mae Lone) and Hluttaw Representative of Waw Township, Bago Region, Maung Dee, died on July 16 and 17 respectively. Similarly, the family of Middleweight Lethwei Fighter Tue Tue (aka Naga Marn) was informed about his death on July 13 when they were called to Magway Police Station. However, Tue Tue (aka Naga Marn) had already been tortured to death in interrogation on April 26. Moreover, last month, on June 26, labor activist Thet Hnin Aung, was re-arrested while returning home upon release from Thaton Prison after having served his sentence. Thet Hnin Aung has been missing since. These events make clear, the junta is killing and disposing of the bodies of the political activists”.

Regarding current events, AAPP strongly requests governments and international institutions around the world, including the United Nations and accountability mechanisms, to carry out emergency investigations. In addition, we strongly request to take immediate and effective action against the military junta of Burma which has been carrying extrajudicial killings among other atrocities.

Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP)

Contact – info@aappb.org

Download link for English_Follow up statement on Daik-U prison case (19-Jul-2023)