DEMAND RELEASE OF TERMINALLY ILL PRISONER... Amnesty International ... 12 June 2012

UA: 138/12 Index: ASA 16/004/2012 Myanmar Date: 11 June 2012
URGENT ACTION
DEMAND RELEASE OF TERMINALLY ILL PRISONER
A prisoner sentenced to death in Myanmar after an unfair trial is dying of liver cancer.
His family is calling for him to be immediately released so they can arrange appropriate
care for him in his final weeks. He was tortured during interrogation.
Phyo Wai Aung was arrested on 22 April 2010 and accused of involvement in bombings at the X20 stadium in
Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, on 15 April during the Water Festival. The bombings killed 10 people and injured
168 others. Phyo Wai Aung has always denied any involvement in these bombing.
After his arrest he was taken to Aungthabyay Interrogation Centre where he was reportedly tortured during the first
six days of his detention and again between 11 and 16 May 2010. He was deprived of sleep and forced to stand
for two days with his hands cuffed behind his back while he was being interrogated. He was beaten on the head
and body and forced to kneel while naked on small stones with his hands raised above his head. Interrogators also
reportedly burned his genitals.
He was held in pre-trial detention in Insein prison and despite symptoms of serious illness developing, Phyo Wai
Aung was not provided with adequate medical care until the second half of May 2012. He is now in the prison ward
at Insein General Hospital.
Phyo Wai Aung was so ill during parts of his trial that he had to rest in an adjoining room as he was not well enough
to sit in court. A confession extracted under torture was used against him during the trial. His appeal against the
death sentence, which was handed down on 8 May, will be heard in the Supreme Court on 26 June.
Phyo Wai Aung may only have a short time to live. Amnesty International is therefore calling for his immediate
release so that his family can care for him.
Please write immediately in English, Burmese or your own language:
n Express concern that Phyo Wai Aung is reported not to have been provided with adequate medial care in Insein
prison until recently despite the fact that he was very ill;
n Urge the President to release Phyo Wai Aung from prison immediately;
n Express concern about credible reports that Phyo Wai Aung was tortured during interrogation and was later
subjected to a trial which fell far short of international fair trial standards.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 23 JULY 2012 TO:
President of the Republic of the Union of
Myanmar
U Thein Sein
Ministry of President’s Office
Ministry of Defence
Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear President
And copies to:
Minister of Home Affairs
Lt. Gen. Ko Ko
Ministry of Home Affairs
Office No. 10, Nay Pyi Taw
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear Minister
Chairman
U Win Mya
Myanmar National Human Rights
Commission
27 Pyay Road
Hline Township, Yangon
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Salutation: Dear Chairman
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.
URGENT ACTION
DEMAND RELEASE OF TERMINALLY ILL PRISONER
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Phyo Wai Aung was born in 1979. He is a Muslim who lived in Yangon with his wife and children. He trained as an electrical engineer and was
working as a construction contractor in 2010 at the time of his arrest.
Name: Phyo Wai Aung
Gender: male
UA: 138/12 Index: ASA 16/004/2012 Issue Date: 11 June 2012