A Licnese to Torture ?
People arrested for their political activities ranging from peaceful expression against
the military junta to carrying out campaigns for the civil disobedience movement are
taken to interrogation centers of the military junta and are very likely to encounter
torture or ill-treatment regardless of their gender, ethnicity or disability. However,
those who belong to vulnerable groups such as women, LGBTQI+ and Muslims are
subjected to specific persecution due to their identity. Those who are already beaten
and psychologically assaulted during the arrest or on the way to the interrogation
centers are also further physical and psychological assaults which include deprivation
of sleep, electric shocks, hopping like frog, beating with cement-filled batons.37 As the
victims are mostly blindfolded and hooded, the perpetrators are rendered invisible.
According to an interviewer who had a little time to see the military personnel in the
interrogation center she was taken, the police and soldiers never wore uniform within
the interrogation center as well.
Many accused in good health were killed under interrogation or detention by the
military junta38 or died shortly released from interrogation due to severe ill-treatment39
while many others are subjected to enforced disappearance which itself is a form of illtreatment.
Too Too, one of the most famous Lethwei legends who used to be healthy and strong,
was tragically tortured to death by the military in Myanmar in 2023, as reported.40 The
fighter, who was arrested last year, is believed to have died while in custody in April.
Shockingly, his family was only informed of his death in July, despite local news outlets
in Myanmar reporting that he had actually passed away on April 26.
Too Too’s detainment by the military occurred on April 11th, 2022. Disturbing photos
surfaced, showing the physical toll that the torture had taken on the legendary athlete.
The news of his death has sent shockwaves through the Lethwei community and has
sparked outrage both within Myanmar and internationally.
Sexual harassment, gender-based violence and sexual violence are common in
interrogation centers. Equality Myanmar’s analysis indicates that women and LGBT are
mostly subjected to gender-based violence and sexual violence but men are not exempt
from sexual violence as well.
37
“Myanmar military uses systematic torture across country”, Associated Press, October 28, 2021, https://
apnews.com/article/myanmar-torture-military-prisons-insein-abuse-390fe5b49337be82ce91639e93e0192f
(accessed June 10, 2023)
38
At least 145 deaths in custody since Myanmar coup”, RFA, October 4, 2022,
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/custody-10042022170801.html (accessed June 10, 2023)
39
Ibid.
40
“Lethwei legend tortured to death in Myanmar”, Asian MMA, July 15, 2023,
https://asianmma.com/lethwei-legend-tortured-to-death-in-myanmar/ (accessed July 30, 2023)
28
Equality Myanmar