Ann resident requires hospital care for injuries suffered in detention, says family

By DMG 23 Sep 2021

DMG Newsroom
23 September 2021, Sittwe 

A resident of Ann Township, Arakan State, who was charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law after the military arrested him, has required medical treatment at hospital for internal injuries he suffered from being beaten in detention, his family members said. 

U Nyi Pu, the 42-year-old resident of Sane village in Ann Township, was admitted to the hospital on September 21. 

“The family was not told about his condition, that he needed to be provided medical treatment,” the younger sister of U Nyi Pu told DMG. “When we asked a staff member in the prison about him, we knew he was admitted to the hospital, but the doctor said he did not need to be provided medical treatment at the hospital and he was brought to the prison and placed under quarantine.” 

She added: “They said nothing happened to my brother, but he could not eat food.” 

One of his left ribs was broken while in detention, and family members requested medical treatment for him at a hospital outside the prison, but authorities did not agree to it. 

U San Shwe, the older brother of U Nyi Pu, said: “My brother told me he could not eat for four or five days as one of his ribs is broken. We transferred money for medical expenses; it was more than K100,000. We think he should be provided medical treatment at a hospital outside prison because he is sick very often.”  

Four men including U Nyi Pu were arrested at their homes on October 10, 2020, after a military column arrived at Sane village. 

The foursome were charged under Sections 50(j) and 52(a) of the Counter-Terrorism Law on November 23 at the Kyaukphyu District Court, and have been facing trial from Kyaukphyu Prison ever since. 

During two years of armed conflict between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) in Arakan State, more than 200 people were arrested and charged on suspicion of having illegal ties to the AA. The regime council has released some of them after dropping charges since the Arakan Army was de-listed as a terrorist group earlier this year. 

But dozens of cases remain ongoing, with defendants in most cases languishing in prison while their trials proceed, often haltingly.