Burmese junta has executed four democratic activists convicted of terrorism in a move swiftly condemned by international human rights groups.
The four men were executed for committing “violent and inhumane acts of terrorism,” the military government’s Ministry of Information said. statement on sunday. This is Burma’s first execution in decades.
The ministry said the executions were carried out in accordance with “related provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act,” but did not specify where and when they occurred.
Phyo Zeyar Thaw, a former member of the National League for Democracy (NLD) Party in Aung San Suu Kyi, and Kyaw Min Yu (also known as Jimmy Ko), a veteran democracy activist, were executed for terrorism-related crimes.
The junta also executed Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw for killing military junta informants in Yangon. After private trials in January and April, everyone was convicted of terrorism.
Acts of “terrible atrocities”
Human rights groups resented the execution of the four individual juntas, alleging that they had been sentenced to death without appeal or the rights of a lawyer.
Elaine Pearson, acting director of Asia at Human Rights Watch (HRW), called on the international community to take immediate action, including the release of all political detainees in Burma (also known as Myanmar). He called on the military government to take responsibility for the atrocities. ..
“The execution of four men by Junta in Myanmar was a total atrocity,” Pearson said. statement. “These executions, including activist Ko Jimmy and opposition lawmaker Fio Zeya Thor, followed a terribly unjustified and politically motivated military trial.”
“Junta’s barbarism and ruthless disregard for human life are aimed at chilling the opposition to the coup. European Union members, the United States, and other governments have told the junta that there is a calculation of the crime. I need to show, “she added.
UN special envoy Tom Andrews condemns the execution of democracy activist Hunta and acts against UN member states against Hunta’s “widespread systematic killing of protesters” and the execution of activists. I urged you to wake up.
“I am resentful and overwhelmed by the news that Myanmar’s patriots and defenders of human rights and democracy have been executed by Junta,” Andrews said. By tweet.
“These corrupt acts must be a turning point for the international community. What more must the junta do before the international community can take strong action?” He added. did.
According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners of Burma (AAPP), the military court did not inform the families of each convicted individual about the circumstances of the military court, the location of the trial, or the nature of the trial.
“The announcement of the execution has openly ridiculed the world’s efforts to abolish the death penalty. This calculated act threatens the population to use political prisoners as hostages and resist military coups,” AAPP said. Said on the moon. statement.
The junta expelled the NLD party, which was elected in February 2021, and triggered widespread anti-coup protests in Burma. According to March, at least 1,600 people have been killed and more than 12,500 have been detained since the military seized power. United Nations Report..
Rohingya “genocide” case
On July 22, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dismissed all Burma’s preliminary objections to the alleged genocide of Rohingya ethnic minorities by military-controlled nations.
The Gambia, a West African country, filed a proceeding in November 2019 alleging that Burma had committed a genocide against a minority to “destroy all or part of the Rohingya group.”
The Burmese government has raised four preliminary oppositions to challenge the jurisdiction of the court and the admissibility of the application, stating that Gambia is not in a position to bring the proceedings to the ICJ.
The court unanimously dismissed three of Burma’s objections (pdf) And one objection by a majority of 15–1. ICJ President Joan Donoghue said the court had jurisdiction over the case and the Gambian application was “acceptable.”
The court may dismiss Burma’s preliminary objection and allow the proceedings to proceed to trial.
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Aldgra Fredly is a Malaysia-based freelance writer featuring the Epoch Times Asia Pacific News.