Update by the Shan Human Rights Foundation
February 15, 2022
Displaced farmer tortured to death “by mistake” by SAC MI officers in Kyaukme town, northern Shan State
On February 3, 2022, a 44-year-old displaced farmer called Sai Tun Win was tortured to death by SAC military intelligence (MI) officers in Kyaukme town, northern Shan State.
Sai Tun Win was a farmer from Taw Sang village, about 40 kilometers north of Kyaukme town. Due to fighting in his village, he had moved to stay with his brother in Quarter 9 of Kyaukme town since March 2021. He stayed in a hut in the compound of his brother’s house.
At about 1 am on February 3, 16 plain-clothed MI officers came in four cars to Sai Tun Win’s brother’s house. They forced their way into the compound by breaking open the lock of the gate and knocking over the spiked fencing around the compound. They then entered Sai Tun Win’s hut and his brother’s house. Sai Tun Win was staying alone, as he was a widower and his only son was living elsewhere. His brother, who was physically disabled, was staying with his wife in the house.
The soldiers said they were from military intelligence and were searching for drugs. They handcuffed Sai Tun Win, put a blanket over his head, and beat and kicked him. They also kicked and hit his brother and sister-in-law, and searched through all the buildings. They frisked his sister-in-law, pulling her hair, and stole money and valuables from her person – forcibly taking her ruby and gold earrings from her ears, and pulling out 30,000 kyat which she kept in the pocket of her bra.
They then took Sai Tun Win outside and pushed him into one of their cars, where they beat him again, before driving away.
About an hour later, another group of six MI officers arrived at the house, and again searched through the buildings. This time, they accused Sai Tun Win of being connected with a PDF group, and of possessing a pistol. They did not find any pistol, but seized rice, cooking oil, clothes and blankets, and then left.
After about half an hour, three more MI officers arrived. They came in and checked the house, and then left.
Later that morning, at 8 am, some of Sai Tun Win’s relatives went to the police station in Kyaukme to try and find him. However, the police officers on duty said he was not there.
At 2 pm, his relatives went to the Quarter 9 administrative secretary to ask after Sai Tun Win. The secretary told them that Sai Tun Win had been taken to hospital, and that the arrest had been a “mistake”. He offered some money as compensation, but asked that Sai Tun Win’s sister-in-law sign a statement saying that Sai Tun Win had been injured by falling from a motorbike. She refused to sign, and the relatives then went to the hospital.
When the relatives arrived at Kyaukme hospital, they saw about ten armed soldiers waiting outside Sai Tun Win’s hospital room. He was lying unconscious on the bed, with blood coming from his mouth, and with wounds to his skull. There were still handcuffs on his left wrist.
Sai Tun Win died that night at 8 pm. The next morning, his relatives requested hospital staff to carry out an autopsy, which showed that he had suffered broken bones, and severe damage to his internal organs. They then arranged for his body to be cremated at Kyaukme cemetery at 2 pm on February 5.
The military have provided no compensation to Sai Tun Win’s family.
Contact
Sai Hor Hseng +66: 94-728-6696 (Shan, English)
Sai San Loi +66: 88 680 4913 (Shan, Burmese)
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