Escape from Sukhitarama Monastery

The following story was reported by Shwe Phee Myay News Agency. This story is especially concerning given that there is no real Rule of Law in Myanmar today, and so little in the way of justice can intervene in the lives of these unfortunate nuns.

Five nuns not only survived the hell room of Sukhitarama Monastery, but also escaped with injuries and returned to their hometowns alive. Two of them were starved and often tied up with ropes, and all five were forced to eat and drink their own feces and urine. They are currently receiving medical treatment in Kyaukme due to poor health. These nuns are from Kyaukme Township, Kung Ning Village, and Suklan Kham Village.

Lwe Mya Aung, who is only seven years old, is healthy and active. However, after being tortured, he can't even walk and is emaciated. His grandfather, Ta Kyung Aung, told Shwe Phi Mun that his grandson is in a life-threatening condition due to torture. Ta Kyung Aung said, "They kicked my grandson down the stairs and shot him again with a canister. His legs were also tortured, and even now, there are still hard scars. The child was forced to eat feces and drink urine. The children said that their teacher punished him because he couldn't carry bricks. That teacher is not a human, but a monster," he said. Ta Kyung Aung is not satisfied with this matter and wants the responsible nun to handle all the medical expenses.

The Sukhitarama nunnery, which tortures children in various ways, is located in Block 1 of Myaintharya, Kyauktan Township, Yangon Region. Daw Idrasiri, a Mon-Burmese nun, is said to be in charge. There are a total of 16 nuns from Kho Nang and Kyong Kham Village in Kyauk Mae Township at the nunnery. When the five were released, the 11 remaining nuns were still being tortured, according to the escaped nuns.

In April 2022, an assistant nun, a native of Mangye Village, Namsan Township, came to organize and take the nuns to educate them. The children's parents believed and made their children wear nuns' attire and added them so that they could get an education. However, the children were forced to work in stone construction and carry bricks without studying. The little nuns who couldn't carry a brick were punished, and they had to return the food and materials they received when they went out to donate alms. Ma Punnami (aka Loe Win Win Khaing), a 14-year-old nun, said that she and her friends starved in the school building for two days and were hanged. The children also showed how they were hanged. Loe Win Win Khaing testified, "At first, the door of the kitchen school was not closed. They tied us up with green nylon rope, one hand and one leg, and hung us on the beam. We were hung like that for two days without any food. I've been hit like that three times."

Among the current nuns, 10-year-old Nang Li still has injuries from being hanged. All 16 young nuns living in that monastery have to eat two meals a day with only one plate per meal. Loy Nyong Kham, nine years old, whose name is Namakka, is full of beating wounds all over his body. He was emaciated and had numerous wounds from being beaten. Loy Nom Kham said, "The construction of the school has been going on for about a month. They hit me because I couldn't carry a brick. Then they pressed the person again with bricks.

Family members are worried about the remaining 11 nuns at Sukhitarama Nunneries and want to call them back, but the headmaster has told them not to do so. The father of one of the nuns, who is still at the school, said, “I am worried about the other nuns and want to bring my daughter back. Please help me."

All five nuns who came home were sent by the headmistress of the school, Daw Idra Thiri, herself. They were dropped off on the side of the road near their parents' house in Kyaukme. The villagers recounted that Daw Idra Thiri said the children were sent back because they were thin.

Ta Kyaw Aung continued, "They dropped the children off at the Guk Ning home in Kyauk Mae on a tricycle. I went down and offered them tea, but they refused to drink it. As soon as they put the tea down, they left. They did not say anything about the children's conditions."

Among the five nuns who returned, their ages ranged from 5 to 14 years old, and 7-year-old Loe Mya Aung was in a life-threatening condition. Families who cannot afford medical treatment can receive it at home.