YANGON DIVISION – The Political Prisoner Network Myanmar (PPNM) reported on September 4 that a political prisoner receiving treatment for TB in the TB patients ward in Insein Prison was raped (male on male) by the cell leader.
The 25 year old political prisoner who was sentenced to ten years under Section 50(j) was physically assaulted and raped against his will by cell leader Zin Myo Ko (aka) Myo Gyi (Father: Myo Min Swe) who is serving a ten year sentence for rape under section 376 on August 20 around 3 a.m.
However, the prison block leader Aung Kyaw Sint did not punish the rapist Zin Myo Ko (aka) Myo Gyi and instead covered up the news, threatening that both will be placed in solitary confinement if the news leaked.
PPNM revealed that Aung Kyaw Sint is known to have received bribes and appointed criminal prisoners to senior positions among prisoners and would cover up the news of those prisoners inhumanely treating, assaulting, threatening and in this case, raping the political prisoners.
“It is intentionally damaging the dignity of the political prisoners. This needs to be reported both in the country and globally and effective punishments and reformations are needed,” said a political prisoner.
Out of the 46 prisons in Myanmar, although the revolutionary forces have seized Lashio Prison and Sibaw Prison and released those detained there, 20,833 political prisoners are still detained in 36 prisons under the control of the junta council, according to the September 3 statement by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
