washington — Photojournalist Kyaw Swa Tun, who was released last week from Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison after serving more than two years, has recounted the brutal treatment he endured at the hands of prison guards in an exclusive interview with VOA.
“When the authorities learned I was a journalist,” he said, “I was isolated, tortured privately and subjected to threats of further harm if any news about the prison leaked out.”
Having been accused of “insulting the state,” Kyaw, 27, was sentenced to three years of hard labor in January 2023 under Section 505(a) of the penal code, one of several key amendments to Myanmar’s colonial-era penal code made after the 2021 coup. Section 505(a) is widely seen as one of the junta’s primary means for charging journalists, student leaders and civil servants seen as a threat to their military rule.
As a photojournalist, Kyaw captured iconic images of protest as people nationwide demonstrated in the streets because of the military coup.
Myanmar’s military junta has systematically targeted journalists, aiming to silence independent reporting and dissent. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Myanmar has become one of the world’s largest jailers of journalists, with dozens arbitrarily detained under charges such as incitement or spreading “fake news.”
2022 arrest
Kyaw was arrested by military security forces at his home in Yangon on September 8, 2022.
“They found a message on my phone where I had contacted an ethnic armed group to verify some facts,” he told VOA. “I always made sure to carefully delete all my messages and contact numbers, but on that day, I wasn’t able to delete that particular message.”
At the time of his arrest, he was working with the VOA Burmese-affiliated news outlet, Mizzima, in their fact-checking department. Mizzima had been forced underground after the military junta revoked their operating license, along with several other popular media outlets, due to their coverage of anti-coup protests.
Mizzima and DVB are now based in a neighboring country, broadcasting online.
“The authorities accused me of spreading false information as part of my work with Mizzima News Agency and other outlets,” he told VOA.
After his arrest, Kyaw was taken to an interrogation center, where he was detained for more than a month before being sentenced and sent to Insein prison in November. He recalled being brutally beaten by the prison authorities upon arrival.
“When they found out I was a journalist, they beat me even more,” he said.
Inside Insein Prison
Arriving at Insein Prison, journalists like Kyaw were subjected to degrading treatment, “including body and cavity searches upon arrival.”
He was violently beaten at the prison entrance, where he was forced to kneel for 45 minutes.
“The conditions were appalling. Upwards of 30 prisoners were crammed into a cell designed for 10,” where some suffocated to death amid poor ventilation, he said. “The food provided wasn’t enough to sustain even one person.”
Several prominent figures associated with Myanmar’s ousted government and civil society have died while in detention or shortly after their release.
Zaw Myint Maung, 72, a senior member of Myanmar’s former ruling party, the National League for Democracy, and a close ally of the ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, died last month while serving a prison sentence. He had been battling leukemia since 2019.
Win Khaing, 73, a former minister in Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, died 10 days ago, shortly after being released from prison due to the poor treatment he endured during his incarceration.
Similarly, award-winning documentary filmmaker Pe Maung Same, 50, died in August, just three days after his medical parole from a prison. According to his wife, Khin Suu Htay, he suffered severe complications from tuberculosis exacerbated by the torture he endured during his arrest in 2022 and the harsh conditions in detention.
The military junta has not allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, to visit prisons in Myanmar since the coup.
“We consistently urge the ICRC to take action,” said Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s permanent representative to the United Nations, who spoke with VOA on Sunday.
“In the past, the ICRC has visited prisons, and during these visits, prisoners’ rights were upheld to some extent. We have observed that their presence helps ensure these rights are respected. We strongly call on the ICRC to protect political prisoners and prevent further violations of their rights.”
Enduring impact
Despite his release, Kyaw still suffers psychologically.
“I can no longer feel safe. At night, even the sound of a dog barking or the sight of a car can startle me,” said Kyaw. He added that imprisonment, poor living conditions and torture have taken a toll on his health.
Myanmar ranks 171 out of 180 countries on the global Press Freedom Index, making it one of the world’s most oppressive environments for journalists.
“If not for China’s population size, Myanmar would lead in the number of journalists imprisoned relative to its population,” said Toe Zaw Latt, secretary-general of the Independent Press Council Myanmar, a group formed last year to help promote media freedom and safety for journalists reporting in the country.
Research by the VOA Burmese Service indicates that approximately 40 journalists are imprisoned across Myanmar. Among them is VOA contributor Sithu Aung Myint, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for “sedition,” among other charges. He had been providing news analysis for a VOA Burmese weekly program until his arrest in August 2021.
“The junta has weaponized laws like Section 505(a) to suppress dissenting voices and control the narrative,” Toe Zaw Latt told VOA. “This is a deliberate attempt to silence journalists and ensure that only the military’s version of the truth is disseminated.”
Journalists and press freedom advocates are urging the international community to take stronger action.
“If the international community is serious about democracy and stability in Myanmar, they must support independent journalism,” Toe Zaw Latt said.
“Journalists are the messengers who expose atrocities and violence on the ground. Without them, the world would remain blind to the realities in Myanmar. Supporting them is not just about protecting individuals; it’s about safeguarding truth and democracy.”
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