A 24-year-old hip-hop and rap artist Ko Htet Way Yan has died from torture while in military custody in Mandalay Region’s Pyigyidagun Township. The military forces arrived at his home in Kular Gyi Village, Ngwe Taung Village Tract, around midnight on May 20 and took him away in their vehicle. On May 21, his family was notified through Mandalay General Hospital’s morgue to collect his body.
When family members arrived at Mandalay General Hospital, they found Ko Htet Way Yan’s body bearing numerous signs of torture and abuse, with severe injuries to his face, head, and entire body. Sources close to the family confirmed that he had no criminal record and had not committed any crimes. He leaves behind a wife and a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. The military authorities only permitted the body to be cremated directly from the hospital and did not allow the family to take the remains home for traditional funeral rites.
Ko Htet Way Yan, who performed under the stage name Izzel, was a passionate musician known in the hip-hop and rap music scene. He was also active as a DJ and was deeply involved in the local music community. His death through arbitrary arrest and torture by military forces has deeply saddened local residents and the artistic community. He was known as a peaceful artist dedicated to his craft, making his violent death at the hands of the military particularly tragic. The incident has highlighted the ongoing pattern of violence and human rights violations being committed by the military against civilians in Myanmar.
