A female political prisoner died in Obo Prison in Mandalay due to the lack of adequate medical treatment, according to a statement issued by the Political Prisoners Network – Myanmar (PPNM) on 7 February.
The 35-year-old prisoner Ma Yin Moe, who was sentenced to six years in prison under Section 505(a) by Chanayetharzan Township Court in March 2021, died of kidney disease at Mandalay General Hospital on 4 February, according to the PPNM.
At her request, the prison authorities sent Ma Yin Moe to a hospital outside the prison during her illness, but did not allow her to stay outside the prison long enough as they could not provide security. According to the PPNM statement, she was recalled six times from Mandalay General Hospital to Obo Prison while receiving medical treatment.
The statement also said that political prisoner Ma Yin Moe died because her kidney condition was not detected in time, she could not receive proper medical treatment and she was not allowed full-time treatment at an outside hospital.
In Myanmar, political prisoners continue to die in prisons because they do not have access to adequate medical treatment. According to PPNM records, five male and female political prisoners have already died in early 2024.
PPNM spokesperson Ko Thaik Tun Oo said: “I no longer believe it was just a coincidence. We now have evidence that the prison authorities have turned the hospitals into killing fields. Because we now believe that they are killing the prisoners by their trickery.”
He also calls on the authorities to allow political prisoners to bring foreign medicines into the prisons during their family’s prison visits and to ensure adequate medical care in the prisons.
“I would also urge the authorities to allow emergency patients to receive timely treatment at outside hospitals and allow them adequate treatment time there,” he added.
In January, two political prisoners Ko Yar Shin aka Ko Har Shin and Ko Pyae Phyo Aung from Kyaikmaraw Prison, Ma Su May Aung from Magway Prison and Ko Kyi Ya Aung from Kalay Prison died because they did not receive proper medical care.
Sent by IMNA.