Myanmar junta executes 4 democracy activists, sparks widespread condemnation

Myanmar’s ruling navy introduced on Monday it had executed 4 democracy activists accused of aiding “terror acts”, sparking widespread condemnation of the nation’s first executions in a long time.

Sentenced to demise in secretive trials in January and April, the lads have been accused of serving to a civilian resistance motion that has fought the navy since final yr’s coup and bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

Among these executed have been democracy campaigner Kyaw Min Yu, higher often called Jimmy, and former lawmaker and hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw, an ally of ousted chief Aung San Suu Kyi. The two others executed have been Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw.

State media stated “the punishment has been conducted”, however didn’t say when, or by what technique. Previous executions in Myanmar have been by hanging.

The shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which is main efforts to undermine the junta’s makes an attempt to rule Myanmar, stated it was time for a global response.

“The global community must punish their cruelty,” stated Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the NUG president’s workplace.

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Myanmar has been in chaos for the reason that Feb. 1, 2021 coup, with the navy, which has dominated the previous British colony for 5 of the previous six a long time, engaged in battles on a number of fronts with newly fashioned militia teams.

United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet referred to as the executions a “cruel and regressive step.”

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the executions and referred to as once more for the discharge of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, together with Suu Kyi.

In a joint assertion, the European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Britain and the United States described the executions as “reprehensible acts of violence that further exemplify the regime’s disregard for human rights and the rule of law.”

Amnesty International’s demise penalty adviser, Chiara Sangiorgio, stated the executions have been “an enormous setback” and that the junta is “not going to stop there.”

Human Rights Watch appearing Asia director Elaine Pearson stated it was “an act of utter cruelty” that “aims to chill the anti-coup protest movement.”

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One video confirmed a number of masked protesters chanting and carrying a big banner down on a road in Yangon that learn “We will never be frightened” earlier than turning to run.

‘HIDING BODIES AWAY’

The executions have been the primary carried out amongst some 117 demise sentences handed down by military-run courts for the reason that coup, in accordance with the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has been monitoring arrests, killings and court docket verdicts in Myanmar.

Families of the executed males have been denied the chance to retrieve their family members’ our bodies, stated Thazin Nyunt Aung, spouse of Phyo Zeyar Thaw, evaluating it to murderers protecting up their crimes.

“This is killing and hiding bodies away,” she instructed Reuters. “They disrespected both Myanmar people and the international community.”

Nilar Thein, spouse of Kyaw Min Yu, stated she would maintain no funeral and not using a physique.

“We all have to be brave, determined and strong,” she posted on Facebook.

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The males have been held in Yangon’s Insein jail, the place households visited final Friday, in accordance with an individual with data of the occasions, who stated jail officers allowed just one relative to talk to the detainees by way of video name.

“I asked then ‘why didn’t you tell me or my son that it was our last meeting?'” Khin Win May, the mom of Phyo Zeyar Thaw, instructed BBC Burmese.

The junta made no point out of the executions on its nightly tv information bulletin on Monday.

Its spokesperson final month defended the demise sentences as justified, and utilized in many international locations.

‘HEINOUS EXECUTION’

The White House condemned the “heinous execution of pro-democracy activists and elected leaders.” U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price stated Washington was contemplating additional measures in response to the junta, including that “all options” have been on the desk, when requested particularly on potential sanctions on the nation’s gasoline sector.

Price urged international locations to ban gross sales of navy gear to Myanmar, not do something that would lend the junta any worldwide credibility.

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez in an announcement urged President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, amongst others.

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Senate Republican chief Mitch McConnell, who has lengthy had shut ties to Suu Kyi, referred to as on Myanmar’s neighbours to reply. “If they will not step up and impose meaningful costs on the junta the Biden administration should use authorities already given to it by Congress to sanction Burma’s energy sector,” he stated.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), final month despatched a letter of enchantment to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing to not perform the executions, relaying deep concern amongst Myanmar’s neighbours.

France condemned the executions and referred to as for dialogue amongst all events.

China’s overseas ministry urged all events in Myanmar to correctly resolve conflicts inside its constitutional framework.

Others referred to as for swift sanctions.

The U.N. Security Council ought to “pass a strong resolution of not only condemnation, but clear strategic action, sanctions, economic sanctions and arms embargo,” U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews instructed Reuters.

The AAPP says greater than 2,100 individuals have been killed by safety forces for the reason that coup. The junta says that determine is exaggerated.

The true image of violence has been arduous to evaluate, as clashes have unfold to extra distant areas the place ethnic minority rebel teams are additionally combating the navy.

The executions have shattered hopes of any peace settlement, stated the Arakan Army (AA), one in all greater than a dozen ethnic minority armies in Myanmar which have fought the navy for years.

The executions will shut off any likelihood of ending the unrest throughout Myanmar, stated analyst Richard Horsey of the International Crisis group. The navy “sees this as a demonstration of strength, but it may be a serious miscalculation.”

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