Photo: DPPN
Mizzima
The Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM) is concerned about the impacts of forced conscription and the rise in crime, violence against women and the targeting of political prisoners within junta-run jails, in southeast Myanmar.
It says that these concerns have only heightened within the first week of April. The military continues to deceive the international community by concealing the fact that prisoners are being killed after inhumane torture.
HURFOM reported on the disappearance of political prisoner Ko Win Thiha on 28 March, 2024. His death was confirmed on 3 April 2024.
According to prison sources from the Dawei Political Prisoners Network, political prisoners Ko Minn Thu and Ko Win Thiha were taken from their cells with black hoods placed over their heads, tortured, and ultimately executed. They faced baseless accusations of communicating with the resistance forces from within the prison.
The junta alleged they died trying to escape and disposed of their bodies without allowing their families to see them.
Political prisoners killed during interrogation by military intelligence, or those executed, tortured and beaten to death in junta custody, are denied their dignity even in death, says HURFOM. Families are deprived of final farewells and traditional burials.
The junta, to get rid of the evidence of their crimes, will cremate bodies, regardless of the individual’s religious affiliations. Then, loved ones are lied to and told the detainees died trying to escape.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has closely monitored and followed these cases with daily updates and reports.
Indiscriminate firing also contributes to ongoing fears by locals in southeastern Burma, according to HURFOM.
A patrolling military junta column shot a 60-year-old villager, villager, Nai Ka Rone, while he was watering vegetables on his farm in the southern part of Than Ka Laung Village, Mon State. Burma Army troops called out to him in Burmese, but he did not understand what they were saying, as he was not a native Burmese
speaker. When he failed to reply, he was shot and killed. The increase in soldiers in the area has forced villagers to flee, fearing the same fate.
Despite the junta’s terrorising tactics, the youth are continuing to resist, according to HURFOM.
The New Rehmonnya Federated Force (NRFF) announced that it had led a 29 March protest against the military dictatorship in Mawlamyine, Mon State, by Mon youths who held up banners with slogans such as: ”No to Military Slavery, build in Resilience and Unity.”
The NRFF spokesperson, Banyar Mehm, said the protest aimed to demonstrate the military council’s weakening grip on power and challenge its authority.
The NRFF’s statement also highlighted the junta’s arbitrary arrests and killings of youths over the past three years and the recent artillery attacks on Mon villages in Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State, which resulted in over 350 homes being set on fire. It emphasised that these actions were attempts to intimidate the Mon people.
HURFOM says that Mawlamyine has seen increased security measures in the past two years, including CCTV cameras installed by junta-backed Tech companies. Despite this, the NRFF managed to organize the protest to combine street demonstrations with military tactics, highlighting the need for such efforts due to the tightened security in the city.
The NRFF spokesperson urged all youths to participate in the revolution to shape the future of Mon State and encouraged them to join the fight in any way possible
