Young man arrested by junta dies after torture; Junta did not hand over the body to family

A young man from Taungup township of Rakhine State  died at Taungup general hospital after he was subjected to torture by junta forces during his arrest and interrogation.

The victim is identified as Ko Nyi Naing Soe (19 years old) hailing from Ta Pyawt village under Taungup township.

He was arrested by the junta forces on 18 December along with Maung San Min Naing (17)  and U Win Shwe (41), all from Ta Pyawt village.

"At 3 am, I came to  know that he passed away at Taungup 100-bed general hospital. We were uncertain about his location since his arrest,” said a close family member, while talking to Narinjara News.

The junta forces neither informed Ko Nyi Naing Soe's family about his death nor allowed them to take away his mortal remains.

"Since Ko Nyi Naing Soe's arrest, he was never produced in court. No communication with his family was allowed. The family was not allowed to bring his body for necessary rituals,” added the family member exclaiming that denial of bringing the body back for funeral is very painful.

The locals termed the military junta as anarchist under which rule of law has entirely vanished.

"Think about it. A young man arrested by junta forces wasn't presented in the court. The  junta severed contacts with his family. Inhumane torture was inflicted during the interrogation. Upon his death, the family wasn't informed, and they are not permitted to bring his body back. How lawlessness is prevailing in the country,” he exclaimed.

The family was also barred from viewing the post-mortem report. The boy had no illness, but the junta tried to spread news that he was suffering from liver cancer.

"He was a healthy guy. Now his body is not handed over to the family that means his cause of death will remain under suspicion,” voiced the family member.

Ko Nyi Naing Soe was reportedly buried in Taungup cemetery yesterday under the police escort.