On Monday, July 25, Myanmar’s military junta announced it had hanged four democracy activists – the country’s first executions in decades.
Former National League for Democracy lawmaker and hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya, and prominent democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu (a.k.a. Ko Jimmy), were accused of “terrorism” for allegedly helping fight against military rule.
The other two men, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw, were convicted in April 2021 for allegedly torturing and killing a military informant.
The executions sparked international condemnation, including from Southeast Asian states whose efforts to mediate peace in the war-torn country have stalled.
A spokesperson for the Myanmar junta defended the executions, Reuters reported.
“Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said the executions were not personal but conducted under the law, and the men were given a chance to defend themselves. He said the military government knew the executions, the first in decades in Myanmar, would draw criticism,” the news agency said on Tuesday, July 26.
That is false. All four were tried in closed military courts with no right to appeal. As the proceedings were neither independent nor public, it’s unclear what defense options they had. Critics maintain the executions were politically motivated.
On July 25, Myanmar’s state run Global New Light of Myanmar put out a brief article announcing the death sentences had been carried out “under the law.”
“[The executed men] gave directives, made arrangements,...
The visual verification might not be accessible to you. We recommend you to use the audio verification instead. Important: after clicking play, you will hear 6 digits. Please wait until the audio f...