Myanmar junta to execute 4, including democracy activist and ex-member of Suu Kyi’s party
- The four are ex-MP Phyo Zeya Thaw, democracy activist Ko Jimmy, and two other men sentenced to death for killing a woman they alleged was an informer for the junta
- The move will ‘cement the junta’s reputation as among the worst of the worst human rights abusers in Asia’, a rights group says
Four people, including former MP Phyo Zeya Thaw and democracy activist Ko Jimmy, “who were sentenced to death will be hanged according to prison procedures”, Zaw Min Tun said.
The junta has sentenced dozens of anti-coup activists to death as part of its crackdown on dissent after seizing power last year, but Myanmar has not carried out an execution for decades.
Phyo Zeya Thaw, a former member of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy who was arrested in November, was sentenced to death in January for offences under anti-terrorism laws.
Prominent democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu – better known as “Jimmy” – received the same sentence from the military tribunal.
“They continued the legal process of appealing and sending a request letter for the amendment of the sentence,” said junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun. “But the court rejected their appeal and request. There is no other step after that.”
Two other men, who were convicted and sentenced to death for killing a woman they alleged was an informer for the junta in Yangon, will also be executed, the spokesman said.