Junta removes two political prisoners from Dawei prison: One is dead and the other has disappeared.

April 5, 2024

HURFOM: On March 16th, 2024, two political prisoners who were serving their sentence in the Dawei Prison, Tenasserim Division were removed from the prison by the junta’s forces. One was killed and the other one has disappeared.

The junta accused Ko Win Thi Ha and Ko Min Thu of contacting the People’s Defense Forces by phone in prison and took them outside of the prison, ostensibly to conduct an investigation. On March 23rd, 2024, the prison authority informed Ko Win Thi Ha’s family that he tried to run away, and was shot and killed.

“I went to the prison to file an appeal letter to meet with my son on March 23rd but the prison Chief said he was killed. I asked them to give back the dead body of my son but they refused,” said the father of Ko Win Thi Ha.

Ko Win Thi Ha was arrested on July 7th, 2022 and sentenced to a 7-year imprisonment. He was severely tortured during his prison term and since the end of 2023, he was allowed only to meet with his family once a month.

“Even if a prisoner does something wrong, the interrogation must take place in the prison. To take someone outside for further interrogation is unacceptable. I’m really unsatisfied (with the misconduct of the junta/ prison authority),” said the father.

Ko Min Thu aka Maw Lawi Shat Min, who was also taken outside of the prison together with Ko Win Thi Ha, has disappeared.

“Ko Min Thu is a native of Yangon. He was sentenced to 10-year imprisonment under the Anti-Terrorist Act. He’s also facing three other charges at the moment,” said an official from the Dawei District Political Prisoner Network.

Approximately 20 others including political prisoners are being held in solitary confinement.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News