Myanmar: Torture fears for prominent activists following arrests in new raids

Arrests take place as regional leaders meet in Laos to discuss the Myanmar crisis

‘Interrogation centres - where these two activists have likely been sent - are notorious locations of abuse where torture has been used’ - Joe Freeman

The Myanmar military authorities must immediately account for the whereabouts and wellbeing of two pro-democracy activists arrested in Yangon yesterday, said Amnesty International.

Amnesty understands that Paing Phyo Min and Shein Wai Aung were arrested yesterday - along with at least six other people - and sent to an interrogation centre. Neither of the two activists has been contactable since their detention, and Shein Wai Aung’s family are also uncontactable.

Paing Phyo Min was previously arrested in 2019 along with others for taking part in a performance on social issues dressed as a soldier, and was sentenced to six years in prison. Amnesty called for his release as part of its annual Write 4 Rights campaign, and he was eventually released in 2021 as part of a mass amnesty for prisoners.

After the 2021 military coup, Paing Phyo Min and others took part in peaceful protests in Yangon, despite enormous risks following violent crackdowns. Shein Wai Aung has also taken part in peaceful protests and in supporting political prisoners in the country.

Joe Freeman, Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher, said:

“The Myanmar military must urgently account for the whereabouts and wellbeing of Paing Phyo Min and of Shein Wai Aung and his family.

“Interrogation centres - where these two activists have likely been sent - are notorious locations of abuse where torture has been used to extract information before charges are formally brought.

“Unless they can be charged with an internationally-recognised crime, they must be immediately and unconditionally released.

“As leaders from ASEAN meet in Laos to discuss a way out of the crisis brought on by the 2021 coup, the Myanmar military continues to arbitrarily detain people and carry out repression across the country.

“There is little hope of fair treatment in Myanmar’s prison system with no transparency and extremely substandard conditions.”

Torture and deaths in custody

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a report last month that the Myanmar military has killed more than 5,000 civilians since seizing power in the coup on 1 February 2021 and arrested nearly 27,400 people, at least 1,853 of whom have died in custody. In 2022, Amnesty documented torture and other ill-treatment against people arbitrarily detained by the military and police after the coup in its in 15 Days Felt Like 15 Years report.