Political prisoner Ko Aung Naing Soe has died due to torture and beatings by prison staff at Hpa-an Prison in Karen State, while the military council falsely claims his death was caused by heart disease, according to confirmation from the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM). The incident occurred on July 21, when approximately 30 prison staff members accused Ko Aung Naing Soe of involvement in an argument between inmates during lockdown time. They took him outside and beat him as a group, resulting in injuries that led to his death.
The prison staff members involved in the killing have been identified by PPNM as Assistant Supervisor Kyaw Khaing, Assistant Supervisor Thwin Htoo, Lance Corporal Soe Thu Ra Thein, Private Ko Ko Phyo, Private Chit Oo Zaw, and Sergeant Win Maung. Ko Aung Naing Soe was serving a 7-year sentence under Section 50(c), and reports indicate that oppression against political prisoners in Hpa-an Prison has intensified this year, with human rights violations including immediate punishment and beating for even slight head movements during line-up time.
Thaik Tun Oo, a Central Committee member of the Political Prisoners Network Myanmar (PPNM), has called on revolutionary forces and relevant EROs to arrest these perpetrators if they enter their territories and transfer them to appropriate judicial departments to ensure justice is served. He emphasized that more practical action is needed to reduce prison deaths, suggesting that the names and identification numbers of perpetrators should be cross-checked and effective action taken against them. The PPNM has stressed that merely issuing statements is not enough to prevent such prison deaths, and concrete measures must be implemented to hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions.
