88 Generation Students, Other Detainees Tortured in Interrogation Centers

Members of the 88 Generation Students and other detainees who have been arrested by authorities are now being tortured in Insein interrogation center and other detention facilities.

Some have been tortured to death and others have been hospitalized in serious condition, according to sources.

A source close to authorities in Insein prison told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that many prisoners are tortured and some are now hospitalized in serious condition, including Min Ko Naing, a prominent student leader. The source requested anonymity for his safety.

On August 21, Burmese authorities arrested at least 13 activists of the 88 Generation Students group, including Min Ko Naing, Ko Ko Gyi, Htay Win Aung, Min Zeya, Mya Aye and Kyaw Min Yu, Zeya, Kyaw Kyaw Htwe, Arnt Bwe Kyaw, Panneik Tun, Zaw Zaw Min, Thet Zaw and Nyan Lin Tun, according to the state-run newspaper, The New Light of Myanmar.

The state-run newspaper accused them of “breaking the law guarding against acts undermining the efforts to successfully carry out peaceful transfer of State power and facilitate the proceedings of the National Convention.”

Also, hundreds of detained Buddhist monks in Myitkyina in Kachin State in upper Burma are also reportedly being tortured in detention centers. One monk has died, according to one human rights group. Last month, more than 200 monks in Myitkyina and Bamaw townships in Kachin State were arrested in nighttime raids.

Meanwhile, a human rights group reported on Wednesday that Win Shwe, a 42-year-old member of Burma’s main opposition party, the National League for Democracy, died in a police interrogation center after being tortured. He was a member of the party’s Kyaukpadaung Township branch in Mandalay Division, said the Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma).

The AAPP said it is concerned about the risk of torture for more than 2,000 monks, activists and members of the public now in detention centers. Numerous prisoners are being subjected to torture, said the group.

It said reports from people who have been released from detention centers say detainees do not receive medications, and food and water are inadequate.

On Tuesday, another rights group reported that two university students who were arrested on September 27 died while being interrogated in Rangoon’s Kyaikkasan interrogation center.