A coalition of 15 human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Article 19, has issued a stern condemnation against Myanmar’s military rulers, spotlighting a dire human rights situation within the nation's detention facilities. On Tuesday, these groups released a joint public statement decrying the rampant use of torture and the deliberate neglect of healthcare for political detainees, actions that have led to a distressing rise in custody-related deaths.

The statement detailed the recent fatalities of Ma Wutt Yee Aung and Ko Pyae Sone Aung, both political prisoners, who succumbed to the brutal conditions faced in captivity this past July. Ma Wutt Yee Aung, a young leader from the Dagon University Students Union, and Ko Pyae Sone Aung, a representative of the National League for Democracy, endured severe mistreatment and a lack of medical care, reflective of a broader, systemic issue under the current regime.

The Political Prisoners Network-Myanmar has recorded at least 190 deaths among political prisoners due to harsh interrogation methods and healthcare denial since the military coup in 2021. Despite these grim statistics, no officials have yet been held accountable.

Supporting this data, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners highlights that, as of early August 2025, over 29,000 arrests have occurred post-coup, with a significant majority still detained under harsh conditions. The ongoing crisis has led to more than 3.5 million internally displaced persons and thousands of civilian deaths, eliciting repeated condemnations from the United Nations and other international bodies.

Yet, despite international legal actions, such as those initiated by the International Court of Justice, reports indicate that the military continues to engage in practices that could amount to genocide, particularly against the Rohingya minority.

The rights groups are calling for an immediate halt to the torture and ill-treatment of all detainees, urging the military to align its practices with international legal standards and provide equitable healthcare access to those in its prisons. As the global community watches, the situation in Myanmar remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle against oppressive regimes and the fight for fundamental human rights.