The number of political prisoners in Myanmar who have died in custody from inadequate medical care has risen to 20 this year alone, according to the Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar (PPNM).
At least 20 political prisoners, both men and women, have died in prisons between early January and September 19 due to inadequate or delayed medical treatment, PPNM said.
“Political prisoners have died from poor healthcare, medicine shortages, and a lack of access to outside medical help when needed. This year, the situation has been the worst at Obo Prison in Mandalay Region,” said Ko Thike Tun Oo, a member of the PPNM steering committee.
The 20 political prisoners who died in custody this year due to inadequate medical care were inmates of Obo and Yamethin prisons in Mandalay Region; Thayarwaddy, Paungde, and Daik-U prisons in Bago Region; Myaungmya Prison in Ayeyarwady Region; Kawthaung Prison in Tanintharyi Region; Thayet Prison in Magway Region; and Insein Prison in Yangon Region.
Most of them died because they did not receive timely treatment for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, liver disease, heart disease, stomach problems, kidney disease, asthma, and stroke, Ko Thike Tun Oo added.
“People often say they die in prison because they’re already sick, but the truth is they die because the healthcare in prison is so poor. On top of that, each prison only has three to five doctors, which is nowhere near enough for places like Insein Prison, with tens of thousands of inmates,” he pointed out.
Ko Kyaw Lin Aung, a political prisoner held in Thayet Prison, died on the evening of September 17, even though his death could have been avoided, after authorities refused to allow him access to outside medical care, citing a VIP visit to the prison.
PPNM also accused U Soe Naung, the chief jailor of Thayet Prison, of systematically oppressing political prisoners through abuse of the law.
Ko Thike Tun Oo said that refusing inmates medical care is a blatant breach of their basic right.
“In prison, inmates lose not just their rights as prisoners but their basic human rights too. Because of this, the very right to live for political prisoners, including leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is seriously at risk. Not giving them proper healthcare, and refusing to let them get outside treatment when they need it, is basically an indirect way of trying to kill them,” he told NMG.
Not just political prisoners, but also inmates jailed for non-political offenses are being denied the basic rights they should have. In particular, access to sufficient food and proper healthcare is a fundamental right in prisons, but in Myanmar, these basic rights are routinely ignored, Ko Thike Tun Oo noted.
PPNM called on those who continue to violate prisoners’ rights and human rights in prisons to stop. It also stated that it will keep identifying offenders and continue pushing for justice until these rights are fully protected.
PPNM urged those who continue to violate prisoners’ and human rights in prisons to stop. It also said it will continue to identify offenders and pursue justice until they are held accountable for their actions.
