Following his arrest for participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), the deputy township administrator of Naungcho (Nawnghkio) Township in Kyaukme Province of Shan State tragically passed away while in detention at the Military Council's interrogation center, Shan Herald has learned.

Following U Htay Lin Aung's arrest at a checkpoint in Kyaukme in March of last year, no information has surfaced regarding his whereabouts, and his family has been unable to establish any communication with him.

In fact, U Htay Lin Aung has already passed away due to torture in a Military Council interrogation center. His family only received this heartbreaking news in early July of this year.

"Since last year, he has been missing without a trace, and his absence has left us in anguish. He mentioned having business in Kyaukme but vanished without returning. The family later learned that he was apprehended at a checkpoint, only to be devastated by the recent revelation that he met an untimely demise as a result of unbearable torture inflicted upon him in the interrogation center”, a source close to the family said.

Following the vanishing of U Htay Lin Aung, his family embarked on a relentless search for him, scouring various prisons and interrogating facilities, yet regrettably, they have received no updates on his whereabouts.

Undeterred, the family persevered and sought assistance from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Despite their efforts, they have not yet received any information concerning his location or well-being.

"We exhaustively sought assistance from every available avenue. We reached out to organizations like AAPP (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners) alongside the ICRC, hoping for any news, but unfortunately, our efforts were in vain. It was only over a year later that we received the devastating news of his passing. Regrettably, the family was unable to retrieve his remains”, a family member told Shan Herald.

Currently, the family is diligently pursuing concrete confirmation regarding the reported passing of U Htay Lin Aung, while maintaining a strong desire to retrieve his remains, if circumstances allow.

According to the latest statement from AAPP on July 3rd, a staggering number of 19312 individuals remain in the custody of the Military Council following the coup. Tragically, the statement also revealed that the loss of civilian lives has reached a distressing toll of 3744.