Title: Youth Resistance and Repression: The Impact of the 2021 Myanmar Coup on Political Prisoners and the “Lost Generation”
Abstract:
This paper examines the seismic societal and political shifts in Myanmar following the February 2021 military coup, focusing on the emergence of a youth-led resistance movement, the junta’s violent repression, and the tragic deaths of political prisoners such as Wutt Yee Aung and Khant Linn Naing. Drawing on data from human rights organizations, interviews with survivors, and United Nations reports, the article analyzes the systemic abuses within Myanmar’s prison system and the international response. It highlights the disproportionate impact on young people, the erosion of democratic progress, and the profound human cost of sustained authoritarian control.
- Introduction
On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military overthrew the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, marking the end of a decade of quasi-democratic reforms. The subsequent crackdown on dissent unleashed a wave of violence against civilians, particularly targeting the youth, who became the vanguard of anti-junta protests. This paper investigates the military regime’s tactics of repression, the systemic failures in Myanmar’s prison system, and the plight of political prisoners, using the cases of Wutt Yee Aung and Khant Linn Naing to humanize the crisis. By analyzing data from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) and the Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM), the study underscores the human rights violations and the demographic toll of the coup on Myanmar’s “lost generation.”
- Historical Context: The 2021 Coup and Initial Protests
Myanmar’s transition to democracy in 2011, after decades of military rule, was a fragile and partial process. While civil liberties expanded, the military retained significant power through constitutional provisions guaranteeing control of key ministries. The 2021 coup disrupted this trajectory, with the Tatmadaw (armed forces) claiming electoral fraud to justify the ouster of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The move sparked mass protests under the rallying cry of “We Want Democracy,” led by students, civil servants, and grassroots activists. The junta responded with lethal force, arresting thousands and enforcing a brutal campaign of violence to quell resistance.
- The Youth Movement and Its Mobilization
Young people, particularly university students, emerged as the backbone of the anti-coup movement. For the first time in decades, they experienced freedoms under the NLD government, fostering a generation eager to dismantle authoritarianism. Institutions like Dagon University became hotbeds of dissent. Wutt Yee Aung, a 19-year-old zoology student, exemplified this spirit, joining the student union and participating in street demonstrations. Her story mirrors that of Khant Linn Naing, a history student involved in print media activism. Their arrests and subsequent deaths in custody reflect the junta’s strategy of targeting youth leaders to destabilize the resistance.
- Tactics of Repression: Arrests, Torture, and Executions in Custody
The regime’s response to dissent has been characterized by systemic brutality. According to the AAPP, at least 74 political prisoners aged 18–35 died in custody between 2021 and early 2026, with the PPNM reporting 273 deaths from charges of “incitement” and “insurrection.” Prisons like Insein (Yangon) have become centers of torture and neglect. Wutt Yee Aung endured head injuries from interrogation and was denied adequate medical care, as evidenced by her handwritten pleas for medicine. Khant Linn Naing, similarly arrested and tortured, succumbed to his injuries shortly after. The AAPP and PPNM document deplorable conditions: overcrowding, lack of sanitation, and prolonged solitary confinement.
The junta’s foreign ministry has dismissed U.N. allegations of torture as “unverified,” yet survivors and letters from prisoners corroborate these abuses. The pattern of deaths in custody, coupled with forced disappearances, underscores the regime’s intent to silence opposition through fear.
- International Response and Human Rights Frameworks
The U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has repeatedly condemned the junta’s actions, with investigators citing “systematic torture” and “disproportionate violence against civilians.” Despite these reports, coordinated international pressure has been inconsistent. Sanctions on military leaders and entities have had limited reach, while the regime exploits diplomatic divisions to avoid accountability. The deaths of Wutt Yee Aung and Khant Linn Naing have galvanized global civil society, yet systemic reforms remain elusive. The U.N. Development Programme estimates that 300,000–500,000 young people have fled Myanmar since 2021, further destabilizing the country’s future.
- Case Studies: Wutt Yee Aung and Khant Linn Naing
Wutt Yee Aung’s Story:
Wutt Yee Aung’s life post-2021 illustrates the junta’s punitive policies. Arrested in September 2021 for “insurgency,” she survived months of torture before her health deteriorated. Letters to friends reveal her dire need for basic medical supplies, ignored by prison authorities. She died in July 2025 at age 25, with the regime attributing her death to a heart condition. The Dagon University Students’ Union, however, linked her death to inadequate care and torture during interrogation. Her case highlights the calculated neglect meted out to political prisoners.
Khant Linn Naing’s Experience:
Less is known about Khant Linn Naing’s final days, but his role in print media activism made him a target. Like Wutt Yee Aung, he faced interrogation and torture, with family and colleagues reporting similar patterns of abuse. His death underscores the vulnerability of those using communication as a tool of resistance.
- The “Lost Generation” and Demographic Impact
The U.N. report defines the post-2021 crackdown as a “lost generation crisis,” with young people disproportionately arrested, conscripted into the military, or forced into exile. Over 500,000 youth have fled the country, depriving Myanmar of its most active civic leaders. For those remaining, life under the junta is marked by trauma, economic collapse, and eroded prospects. Shwe Theingi, Wutt Yee Aung’s friend, exemplifies this exodus, having left Yangon to escape arrest. The human toll—measured in lives lost, futures abandoned, and communities fractured—raises urgent questions about Myanmar’s long-term recovery.
- Conclusion and Future Implications
The 2021 coup has crystallized the junta’s ruthless commitment to preserving power, with youth resistance meeting systemic repression. The deaths of Wutt Yee Aung and Khant Linn Naing symbolize the broader struggle of a generation to reclaim democracy. International actors must prioritize accountability, support refugee networks, and advocate for reforms in detention practices. Without sustained pressure, Myanmar risks becoming a case study in the futility of hope under authoritarianism. The junta’s narrative of stability through violence cannot withstand the moral weight of documented crimes against humanity. As one final quote from Wutt Yee Aung’s prison letter reflects: “I miss everyone.” Her words, and the stories of countless others, demand a resolute global response to end the crisis in Myanmar.
References
Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Data on Political Prisoner Deaths (2021–2026).
Political Prisoners Network of Myanmar (PPNM). Report on Prison Conditions and Mortality.
United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Annual Report on Atrocities in Myanmar (2024).
Reuters. “Thousands Marched for Democracy in Myanmar. Some Died in Prison.” (2026).
U.N. Development Programme (UNDP). Displacement and Youth Migration in Myanmar. (2025).
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