Sources close to Magway Central Prison (also known as Daung Nay Prison) have reported that political prisoners Ko Aung Khan Oo (aka Pa Lay) and U Win Myint Hlaing (aka Ko Ko Hlaing) have been severely tortured to the point of life-threatening injuries by the military council following an attack on the prison by revolutionary forces. On the evening of April 13, the Daung Sat Aung LPDF and allied forces launched an attack using heavy and light weapons on both the Magway Central Prison and the facing No. 25 Police Battalion, located along the Magway-Yenangyaung road in Magway City.
Following the attack, prison authorities and military council troops subjected political prisoners to arbitrary beatings, torture, and solitary confinement. In particular, former Vissandar PDF leader Ko Aung Khan Oo (Pa Lay) and National League for Democracy (NLD) party member U Win Myint Hlaing (Ko Hlaing Hlaing), who is the Regional Parliament representative for Constituency No. 2 in Taungdwingyi Township, Magway Region, were severely tortured. Ko Aung Khan Oo is serving a 203-year sentence while U Ko Ko Hlaing is serving a 173-year sentence.
According to sources close to the prison, the military council and prison authorities are using the attack as a pretext to specifically target and torture political prisoners. Additionally, it was learned that NLD party members Dr. Aung Moe Nyo, the Chief Minister of Magway Region, and U Ta, the Regional Parliament Speaker, are also being detained in Magway Central Prison. Political observers note that such brutal torture of political prisoners constitutes human rights violations and goes against prison regulations. The targeting of political prisoners following the attack demonstrates the military council’s continued use of violence and oppression against those who oppose their rule, despite these actions being in clear violation of both domestic and international law regarding the treatment of prisoners.
