Wut Yee Aung, Shwe Thinngyi, and Khant Linn Naing were young students pursuing higher education in Myanmar. Today, two of them have tragically lost their lives at a young age. It is alleged that Wut Yee Aung and Khant Linn Naing passed away due to torture endured while in custody. Their only “crime” was standing up against Myanmar’s military regime, taking to the streets to defend democracy, and participating in protests to voice their opposition to military rule.
Wut Yee Aung and Shwe Thinngyi first met in 2019 while both were students at Dagon University. Wut Yee Aung was studying Zoology, and both were prominent figures in the university’s student union. Meanwhile, Khant Linn Naing was a history student at another university in Myanmar.
The Myanmar military seized power in a coup on February 1, 2021, toppling the elected government. Following the coup, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest against military rule, including Wut Yee Aung, Shwe Thinngyi, and Khant Linn Naing. However, amid the military’s brutal crackdown on protesters, all three youths were arrested and imprisoned.
It is estimated that hundreds of people detained during the crackdown have been subjected to inhumane torture. International bodies, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, have accused the military regime of torturing and killing a significant number of political prisoners.
In a report released last year, the UN stated that the Myanmar military government has been inflicting inhumane torture on political prisoners, leading to numerous deaths. While the exact death toll remains unclear, the Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM), a human rights advocacy group, confirmed they have verified the deaths of 273 political prisoners in custody.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) further confirmed that among those tortured and killed in prison were 74 youths aged between 18 and 35. Despite these reports, the Myanmar military government continues to deny the allegations made by the UN and human rights organizations.
The UN report also highlighted that those who speak out against the military regime, particularly the youth, are being arrested, tortured, and forced into military service. The UN noted that such atrocities are having a devastating impact on Myanmar’s younger generation and children. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), between 300,000 and 500,000 young people have fled the country since the coup, including Shwe Thinngyi.
Wut Yee Aung, however, did not leave the country. She was arrested in September 2021 while actively protesting against the military government. In addition to charges of anti-government activities, she was convicted of inciting hatred and encouraging others to rise against the state, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence. According to Shwe Thinngyi, Wut Yee Aung died due to the torture she endured in prison and the deliberate denial of medical care.
Khant Linn Naing’s family only learned of his arrest through a television news broadcast. The 19-year-old was detained in December 2021. He faced similar charges of anti-government activism and incitement and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
In July 2023, Khant Linn Naing was killed by prison guards. The military government claimed he was shot while attempting to escape. However, his family has rejected this explanation, believing he was extrajudicially murdered. Like many others, his only offense was exercising his right to freedom of expression and advocating for democracy.
