Venerable U Pasanathiya, a political prisoner serving a 15-year sentence in Mandalay’s Obo Prison, has passed away from rectal cancer after receiving inadequate medical treatment. The 36-year-old monk, who had spent 16 years in monkhood at Ratana Pagan Monastery in Mandalay, died on July 25 due to the military council’s torture and lack of proper healthcare in prison, according to Venerable U Dhammametta of the Sangha Union-Mandalay.
U Pasanathiya was unjustly arrested by the military council on the night of February 21, 2022, and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment under Section 50(n) on July 17, 2023. Due to torture in prison, the monk developed cancer and was transferred to Mandalay General Hospital on October 15, 2023. However, he did not receive adequate medical treatment and medication despite being hospitalized.
Venerable U Dhammametta of the Sangha Union-Mandalay stated that U Pasanathiya’s death was a deliberate killing by the military council. He emphasized that the military council continues to torture and kill monks and civilians to maintain their power, deliberately withholding proper medical care from prisoners as a form of systematic elimination. The Sangha Union-Mandalay has declared this as an intentional act of murder by the military council.
The Sangha Union-Mandalay has pledged to continue standing with the people in their struggle against the military council’s unjust arrests, detention, torture, and other human rights violations until justice is achieved. They have called for unity among all people to continue the fight until the complete elimination of the military dictatorship system, emphasizing that only through collective resistance can true justice and fairness be restored to Myanmar.
