A National League for Democracy (NLD) member, Ko Min Min (aka Bo Min), died in an interrogation centre in Bago Region’s Paungde Town on 19 May, according to one of his relatives.

On the morning of 18 May, junta police officers patrolling on motorcycles on the Thaphankone to Tarpon road came under a landmine attack from the Paungde People’s Defence Force (PDF), near to Kyoepin Village Tract. One police officer was seriously injured in the attack.

Ko Min Min, who ran a betel shop near to the incident, was then arrested by the military at midday on 18 May, despite never having been involved in anti-junta activities.

One of his close friends said: “He actively worked in politics and social work. We even celebrated at the literature talk together. He’s so friendly and is a genuine person. He isn’t a PDF member, he just runs a betel shop.”

The next day, 19 May, the Military Council told Ko Min Min’s family that he had died of a cold and that his body had been taken to Paungde Hospital. The family were told that they were forbidden from taking the body home.

According to a 10 May NLD statement, 18 NLD members were tortured to death during interrogation in the period since the coup on 1 February 2021 until 10 May 2022.