148 Political Prisoners Died Without Adequate Medical Care Within 5 Years of Military Coup, Junta Falsely Claims Prisoners Receive Sufficient Treatment

The number of political prisoners who have died while unjustly detained due to a lack of adequate medical care in prisons across the country has reached 148, according to the Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM). According to a PPNM report, deaths occurred in 32 prisons nationwide between July 2021 and May 2026, a period of five years. Among those who died, 86 percent were male political prisoners, 13 percent were female political prisoners, and 1 percent were LGBT individuals. The age groups of those who died were predominantly those in their working years, between 36 and 55 years old. Two children and young people under 17 years old, as well as elderly individuals over 70, were also among the deceased. Due to the interim government prioritizing prison healthcare as a secondary concern and restricting timely medical access, political prisoners are losing their lives to treatable diseases. The primary causes of death for most political prisoners include heart disease, liver damage, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and chronic illnesses. Seven deaths were attributed to torture sustained during interrogations. Furthermore, deaths have also occurred due to gastrointestinal problems requiring emergency surgery, severe fevers, and malnutrition. Yangon's Insein Prison is reported to be one of the prisons with the highest number of political prisoner deaths. The military junta, led by interim President Min Aung Hlaing, is publicly lying to the international community, claiming that political prisoners are receiving adequate medical treatment. PPNM has stated that for every instance where political prisoners were denied timely medical care and died, interim President Min Aung Hlaing, the terrorist military junta, and all personnel of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prisons Department, who are their accomplices, bear direct responsibility and must be held accountable for the crimes committed. Additionally, on July 12, it was reported by PPNM that U Htun Myint, a 72-year-old political prisoner unjustly imprisoned in Paungde Prison, died due to insufficient healthcare and inadequate nutrition within the prison.