The Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM) has confirmed that more than 200 political prisoners in Magway Prison have been placed in solitary confinement and denied medical care. The situation developed following clashes between Local People’s Defense Forces (PDF) and military council forces outside the Magway Prison on April 13, 2025, which led to tensions between prison staff and inmates inside the facility. During these incidents, at least two political prisoners, including Saw Shwe Aung who was staying in the prison’s religious building, were killed due to shooting by prison authorities.
Prison authorities accused political prisoners of communicating with external PDF forces and subsequently subjected over 400 political prisoners to brutal interrogations, forcing them to lie face down on the ground while beating them. Many political prisoners sustained injuries from these beatings, with some suffering gunshot wounds. Notably, political prisoners U Win Win and Ko Phyo were severely beaten and are now in life-threatening conditions. The situation has continued to deteriorate, with more than 200 political prisoners now held in solitary confinement for over a month while being denied medical treatment. Since the outbreak of the conflict, political prisoners have been forced to purchase expensive drinking water as they are denied access to clean water, and must resort to using toilet water for bathing.
The PPNM has strongly condemned these actions by prison authorities as blatant violations of human rights and fundamental human dignity. The network has emphasized that these brutal treatments demonstrate a systematic abuse of power and complete disregard for basic human rights. Prison authorities have faced no accountability for their actions, including the shooting deaths of prisoners, highlighting the military council’s apparent policy of allowing deadly force against political prisoners with impunity. The PPNM has announced its intention to investigate these incidents thoroughly and work towards holding the perpetrators accountable for their actions, while calling for increased international attention and intervention regarding the treatment of political prisoners in Myanmar.
