U Win Zaw Oo, a 50-year-old resident of Mon State’s Thaton Township, died while in custody after being arrested for riding an unlicensed motorcycle, reportedly due to torture by military and police personnel. On June 4, U Win Zaw Oo, who lived on Aung Myay Shwe Bon 2 Street in Lower Kyinn Ward, Thaton Township, was arrested by military and police forces for operating an unlicensed motorcycle with a sidecar. He was brought before the Thaton Township Court on June 6, and on June 9, his family was notified of his death.
During his arrest, U Win Zaw Oo expressed his dissatisfaction with being detained for riding an unlicensed motorcycle, questioning why he was specifically targeted while military personnel, police officers, and other government employees were also operating unlicensed motorcycles without consequences. According to his friends, this questioning led to retaliation, resulting in his death from beating and torture. During his court appearance, he informed his family that he was being tortured, but they chose to wait, believing the situation would be resolved after the court’s verdict.
U Win Zaw Oo’s body showed evidence of severe head trauma and torture marks throughout, yet the Thaton Township Police Station falsified the medical report, stating that he died from a cerebral hemorrhage. The authorities gave the bereaved family 200,000 kyats and only permitted the release of the body from the morgue on the morning of June 12. Additionally, there have been threats against sharing news of U Win Zaw Oo’s death by beating at the hands of military and police forces on social media and the internet. The case highlights the ongoing pattern of abuse of power and attempts to cover up violence against civilians by security forces.
