Political prisoner U Maw Htoo has died without receiving timely and adequate medical treatment for injuries sustained during an earthquake that struck Mandalay’s Obo Prison on March 28. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (PPNM) confirmed that U Maw Htoo passed away on June 13. He had suffered severe injuries to his neck and head from the earthquake and, despite undergoing surgery, his health did not improve and he fell into unconsciousness.
U Maw Htoo required additional surgery, but financial constraints prevented him from receiving timely medical care. The required surgical costs were estimated at 8 million kyats (approximately $4,000), but PPNM was only able to provide 1,360,000 kyats in assistance. While efforts were being made to secure additional funding, he succumbed to his injuries at the age of 54. U Maw Htoo had been arrested on December 2, 2021, in Chanmyathazi Township, Mandalay Region, and was serving an 18-year sentence after being charged under sections 505-a and 50(n) of the penal code.
Ko Thike Tun Oo, a central committee member of PPNM, revealed that U Maw Htoo’s death was not only due to direct earthquake damage but also resulted from delayed permission for external medical treatment and financial difficulties. While in prison, inmates must cover their own medical expenses, and even when permission for external hospital treatment was granted, the lack of sufficient funds prevented necessary major surgical procedures from being performed, ultimately leading to his death. The situation highlights the challenging conditions faced by political prisoners in Myanmar, where access to adequate medical care is often limited by both administrative and financial barriers.
