Around 30 political prisoners beaten without cause after watching football match inside Insein prison

(Photo – Security personnel from the Prisons Department of the military junta are seen in front of Insein Prison in 2022. (AFP)) Maung Khet Nue (July 8) Mizzima. Around 30 political prisoners returning after watching a football match officially held in Ward 1 of Insein Central Prison were beaten without cause by a prison officer, according to Mizzima’s sources on the evening of July 7. The incident occurred on the afternoon of July 5, when a Prisons Department (Class 1) officer named Aung Kyaw San intentionally beat them with a rubber-handled baton on vital areas such as the face, head, and neck. “The incident happened on the afternoon of the 5th, when they returned to their ward after watching a football match held inside the prison. When the Class 1 officer and staff questioned them, they said they went to watch because it was an official match, but they were not accepted and were beaten,” said a Mizzima source who requested anonymity. He further stated, “Both the players and the spectators were beaten. It is understood that around 30 people were beaten. They were beaten by a single Class 1 officer, Aung Kyaw San.” The officer then further beat a second political prisoner, accusing him of looking at him, and made those who returned with him lie face down on the ground and stepped on their backs with his shoes. “The political prisoners who were beaten did not commit any mistakes or offenses within the ward; they were beaten due to Aung Kyaw San’s animosity towards political prisoners. Some are reported to be unable to get out of bed,” said another Mizzima source who requested anonymity. Due to this inhumane beating and torture, the political prisoners suffered severe injuries to their faces and heads, with some in a critical condition, unable to even get out of bed, according to a statement released by the Prisoners of Conscience Network of Myanmar (PPNM). The PPNM had also issued a statement on July 7, strongly protesting and condemning the incident and vowing to consistently defend the rights of political prisoners. According to the July 7 statistics from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a total of 31,339 people have been arrested since the military coup in February 2021 until July 7, 2026, and 14,401 of them remain in detention. Editor: Aung Kyaw Phyo