Narinjara News,April 4, 2023

On April 3rd, the Assistance Association for PoliticalPrisoners (AAPP) reported that sincethe military coup on February 1st,2021-until March 31st, 2023- 1,117 individualshad been killed following their arrests by the Military Council, and most of these incidents took place in the Sagaing Region. 

Out of the 17,075 people who were arrested by the MilitaryCouncil following the coup, 5247have been sentenced to prison terms across the country. As of March 31st, 2023, there are currently 108individuals who have been sentenced to death, and are being held in prisons. 

If the 42 individuals who were sentenced to death inabsentia are included, the total numberof people sentenced to death rises to 150. In addition there are a total of 121 individuals who have been sentenced tovarious punishments including capital punishment,in absentia.

3,843 individuals who were arrested by the Military Councilhave been released either due toamnesty, or because they have completed their sentence. 

On May 11th of last year, a horrific massacre took place inMon Taing Pin village in Ye-UTownship, Sagaing Region. 29 people were brutally shot dead after being tied up behind their hands.

Similarly on March 11th of this year, another gruesomeincident occurred in Nam Nein villagein Pinlaung Township, Southern Shan State. In this incident, 21 individuals were arrested and subsequently killed.These two massacres are among the most notoriousand well-known acts of violence perpetrated by the Military Council.

The term “killingduring detention”  refers to the act of causing the death of aperson, who is being held incustody or detained by a government, law enforcement agency, or other authority.

This can occur in various situations, such as duringinterrogation, incarceration, orother forms of detention. Killing during detention can be the result of deliberate actions by those in chargeof the detention, or it can be the result of negligence, mistreatment, or excessive use of force. Suchkillings are a gross violation ofhuman rights and potential war crimes.

The definition also emphasizes that such killings occurspecifically during the process ofhandcuffing, tying, or otherwise restraining a detainee in a prison,interrogation chamber, or militarybarracks.