Political prisoner dies due to insufficient health care in Kyikemayaw

January 17, 2024

HURFOM: On January 12th, 2024, a political prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in Kyikemayaw Central Prison, Kyikemayaw Township, Mon State died due to insufficient health care, according to the statement released by the Political Prisoner Network Myanmar (PPNM) and other sources familiar with the case.

43-year-old Ko Yar Shin aka Har Shin was beaten and tortured in the military interrogation center and sustained damage to his internal organs. His health further deteriorated in November, 2023 but he did not receive appropriate health care from the prison authorities.

He was in critical condition, and was transferred to Mawlamyine General Hospital on January 11, 2024 but died on January 12th.

“His internal organs were damaged due to torture at the military interrogation center. He died as a consequence. The military junta fails to provide sufficient health care to political prisoners which in turn kills them,” said Ko Thike Tun Oo, a spokesperson of the PPNM.

Ko Yar Shin was the village Administrator appointed by the Karen National Union in Ka Lar Tan village, Phar Pyout village tract, Kyikemayaw Township, Mon State. The military junta arrested him in April, 2023 and sentenced him to life imprisonment under the Anti-Terrorist Act.

“He wasn’t allowed to meet with his family members. He was admitted to the prison hospital even when his injury was very bad. He was sent to Mawlamyine hospital only when he was in critical condition. He died on Friday (January 12). His body was cremated at a Muslim cemetery in Mawlamyine on Saturday. The military allowed only four family members to attend the event,” said a source close to his family members.

According to data collected by PPNM, 17 political prisoners across Burma have died due to insufficient medical care in 2023.

In Mon State, two political prisoners from the Kyikemayaw Central Prison and a prisoner from Thaton Prison died from insufficient health care since the February 1, 2021 attempted coup.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News