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Four democracy activists have been executed by the Myanmar military. These executions are believed to be the first death sentences in decades.
Former lawyer Phyo Zeya Thaw, writers and activists Ko Jimmy, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw were executed for committing “acts of terror”.
The executions were first announced by Myanmar’s military in June, prompting international condemnation.
The death sentences come after the 2021 military coup.
Myanmar’s military, or junta, overthrew the democratically elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party in February last year. The coup sparked large protests which were quickly suppressed.
Myanmar’s shadow Unity government, which was formed by opponents of the military coup, condemned the killings, saying “we are deeply shocked and saddened”.
This government consists of pro-democracy figures, representatives of ethnic armed groups and members of Suu Kyi’s party. The shadow government called on the international community to “punish the murderous junta for atrocities and murders”.
The state media of Minamari said that the four people were executed, after “they had given directives, made agreements and carried out conspiracies for terrorist, brutal and inhumane acts”.
The four executed were sentenced to death in January after closed trials, which human rights groups say were non-transparent trials.
According to state media, the four were charged under the anti-terrorism law, but it was not reported when or how they were executed.
The executions are the first in Myanmar – formerly known as Burma – since 1988, according to the United Nations. Earlier in Myanmar, executions were carried out by hanging.
The BBC reports that the family members of the four executed have gone to Yangon Insein Prison to ask the authorities for information. They still haven’t accepted the dead bodies of their family members./ Radio Free Europe
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