The Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar announced on January 26 that up to four political prisoners died within a month because they did not receive adequate medical care in prison.
A university student from Magway Prison on January 22 and a man whose name cannot be disclosed for security reasons from a prison in Sagaing Division on January 25 reached a total death of four political prisoners.
“During the previous year, 2023, up to 17 political inmates died. It started with a bad health situation. Some of them died due to the wrong treatment. The health care conditions for them in prison were getting worse and worse. Even when they got worse, they were not sent to outside hospitals in a timely manner. They died because they didn’t get enough medical care and lacked drugs,” said Ko Thaik Tun Oo, a member of the Head Committee of the Political Prisoners Network in Myanmar.
Four political prisoners died within December 2023, and up to four political prisoners have already died this January.
It is also reported that the military junta has verbally ordered the family members and close relatives of the political prisoners to be arrested and prosecuted if the news of the death and killing of political prisoners inside the prison leaks outside the prison.
“In our statement this time, we did not describe in detail the events and reasons for the death of political prisoners. Because if the news from inside the prison leaks out, there are pressures and threats to the arrest of their family members. We know it from the community close to the prison that the prison authorities gave verbal orders to the prison staff,” said an official of the Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar.
From last year (2023) to today (January 27), a total of 21 political prisoners have died due to insufficient medical care in the prison.