Political prisoner Ma Wai Yan Aung, who died in Insein Prison in Yangon from injuries sustained during torture by the military forces without receiving adequate medical treatment, will be cremated this morning at Yeway Cemetery. She passed away on July 20 inside Insein Prison, and the following day on July 21, the Prison Department issued a release order and returned her body to her family.
Wai Yan Aung, a central executive committee member of the Dagon University Students’ Union, was arrested on September 14, 2021, along with five other students in Kyauktada Township, Yangon, for protesting against the military coup. Following her arrest, she was subjected to severe torture during military interrogation, resulting in serious head injuries. However, she was denied adequate medical treatment while in prison. The military council sentenced her to a total of seven years imprisonment – three years under Section 505(a) for sedition and four years under Section 52(a).
The 25-year-old political prisoner’s health deteriorated significantly while in prison, but the Prison Department failed to provide necessary medical care. She ultimately died from the head injuries she sustained during military torture. Despite her declining health condition, prison authorities consistently denied her proper medical treatment, leading to her untimely death while still suffering from the injuries inflicted during military interrogation. Her death highlights the ongoing human rights violations and lack of proper medical care for political prisoners under the military regime.
