Myanmar junta troops reportedly shot and killed two political prisoners, including a prominent activist, as they were returning from a court appearance in the Bago region on February 8.
Nobel Aye and Aung Ko Hein were taken to Waw township’s courthouse by junta troops and were allegedly shot dead near the exit of Kyaik Hla village on the way back to the military interrogation, according to sources close to the court and hospital cited by the Waw township People’s Defense Force.
Nobel Aye was known for her involvement in protests against police brutality in Myanmar in 1996 and during the Saffron Revolution’s economic and political protests in 2007.
Myanmar Junta Troops (Credits: The Irrawaddy)
She had been arrested twice before, following both demonstrations. Aung Ko Hein, a resident of Insein township in Yangon region, was also reportedly arrested by junta soldiers after being caught with weapons on January 29.
The Waw People’s Defense Force official stated that the bodies of the two prisoners were sent to the morgue and cremated secretly before nightfall, with no one allowed to look at them.
However, the junta has denied that the prisoners died in custody, with Bago’s junta spokesperson calling the information “wrong and fake news.”
Nobel Aye’s brother, Htet Myat, expressed concern over the lack of official confirmation from the police about his sister’s death, stating that his family wants reliable and accurate information to be released by those responsible.
This incident is not the first time political prisoners have been killed in Myanmar; in June 2023, at least 13 political prisoners were shot and killed in central Bago after a prison truck crashed.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reported that more than 4,500 pro-democracy activists and civilians have been killed during the coup, with over 26,000 arrested. The situation in Myanmar remains volatile, with ongoing violence and human rights abuses by the military junta.
