Myanmar poet dead after being taken for interrogation, with organs ‘taken out’ of his body, his wife claims
A poet whose work had opposed the junta that’s ruling Myanmar has died after being interrogated, with internal organs “taken out” of his body, his wife claimed Sunday.
The wife of poet Khet Thi told the BBC Burmese language outlet that her husband never returned after soldiers and law enforcement officials took them both for questioning Saturday, according to Reuters.
“They called me in the morning and told me to meet him at the hospital in Monywa,” Chaw Su told the outlet, saying they had been taken from Shwebo.
“I thought it was just for a broken arm or something ... But when I arrived here, he was at the morgue and his internal organs were taken out.”
The Myanmar military carried out a coup that began in early February, taking control from the Southeast Asian country’s National League for Democracy party.
At least three poets have died since the coup as protests have taken place, according to Reuters. Khet Thi had reportedly written, “They shoot in the head, but they don’t know the revolution is in the heart.”
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a human rights organization, says 780 civilians have now died since the coup began.
“He died at the hospital after being tortured in the interrogation centre,” the organization said of Khet Thi, according to Reuters.
Chaw Su says she was told her husband died of a heart issue.
