# World condemns Myanmar junta for ‘cruel’ execution of activists Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-07-25 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: Myanmar military executes democracy activists sparking Meta Description: Latest news on Myanmar's ruling military execution of four democracy activists accused of aiding 'terror acts', sparking international condemnation. URL: https://financedigest.com/world-condemns-myanmar-junta-for-cruel-execution-of-activistshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-07-25t172250z1lynxmpei6o0sdrtroptp4myanmar-execution-1736815540599-compressed.jpg) (Reuters) -Myanmar’s ruling military announced on Monday it had executed four democracy activists accused of aiding “terror acts”, sparking widespread condemnation of the country’s first executions in decades. Sentenced to death in secretive trials in January and April, the men were accused of helping a civilian resistance movement that has fought the military since last year’s coup and bloody crackdown on nationwide protests. Among those executed were democracy campaigner Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Jimmy, and former lawmaker and hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw, an ally of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The two others executed were Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw. State media said “the punishment has been conducted”, but did not say when, or by what method. Previous executions in Myanmar have been by hanging. The shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which is leading efforts to undermine the [junta’s attempts to rule Myanmar](https://www.financedigest.com/myanmar-junta-chief-makes-another-visit-to-russia.html "Myanmar junta chief makes another visit to Russia"), said it was time for an international response. The [global community](https://www.financedigest.com/optical-satellite-communication-market-emerging-trends-to-boost-the-global-revenue-growth-discussed-in-a-new-market-research-report-by-tmr.html "Optical Satellite Communication Market – Emerging Trends to Boost the Global Revenue Growth Discussed in a New Market Research Report by TMR") must punish their cruelty,” said Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for the NUG president’s office. Myanmar has been in chaos since the coup, with the military, which has [ruled the former British](https://www.financedigest.com/lebanese-bank-closes-over-30-british-held-accounts-after-uk-ruling-depositors-group.html "Lebanese bank closes over 30 British-held accounts after UK ruling-depositors’ group") colony for five of the past six decades, engaged in battles on multiple fronts with newly formed militia groups. United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called the executions a “cruel and regressive step” that would “only [deepen its entanglement in the crisis](https://www.financedigest.com/europe-burns-cash-to-help-businesses-in-deepening-energy-crisis.html "Europe burns cash to help businesses in deepening energy crisis") it has itself created. The United States condemned the action and said there can no longer be “business as usual” with [Myanmar’s junta](https://www.financedigest.com/myanmar-a-no-show-at-summit-after-asean-sidelines-junta-boss.html "Myanmar a no-show at summit after ASEAN sidelines junta boss"). Amnesty International’s death penalty adviser, Chiara Sangiorgio, said the executions were “an enormous setback” and that the junta is “not going to stop there.” Human Rights Watch acting Asia director Elaine Pearson said it was “an act of utter cruelty” that “aims to chill the anti-coup protest movement.” One video showed several masked [protesters chanting and carrying a large banner down on a street in Yangon that read “We will never be frightened” before turning to run](https://www.financedigest.com/doctors-bankers-protest-impossible-situation-as-sri-lanka-runs-out-of-fuel.html "Doctors, bankers protest ‘impossible situation’ as Sri Lanka runs out of fuel"). ‘HIDING BODIES AWAY’ The [executions were the first carried out among some 117 death sentences handed](https://www.financedigest.com/surgical-hand-access-port-market-executive-summary-introduction-sizing-analysis-and-forecast-to-2028.html "Surgical Hand-Access Port Market Executive Summary, Introduction, Sizing, Analysis And Forecast To 2028") down by [military-run](https://www.financedigest.com/military-iot-market-surges-to-usd-76-73-billion-by-2027-propelled-by-11-8-cagr-verified-market-reports.html) courts since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has been tracking arrests, killings and court verdicts in Myanmar. Families of the executed men were denied the [opportunity to retrieve their loved ones’ bodies](https://www.financedigest.com/global-sulfate-free-body-wash-market-business-opportunities-current-trends-growth-market-forecast-global-industry-analysis-by-2029.html "Global Sulfate Free Body Wash Market: Business Opportunities, Current Trends, Growth, Market Forecast & Global Industry Analysis By 2029"), said Thazin Nyunt Aung, wife of Phyo Zeyar Thaw, comparing it to murderers covering up their crimes. “This is killing and hiding bodies away,” she told Reuters. “They disrespected both Myanmar people and the international community.” Nilar Thein, wife of Kyaw Min Yu, said she would hold no funeral without a body. We all have to be brave, determined and [strong,” she posted](https://www.financedigest.com/lego-posts-strong-growth-on-robust-demand-new-store-openings.html "Lego posts strong growth on robust demand, new store openings") on Facebook. The men were held in Yangon’s Insein prison, where families visited last Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the events, who said prison officials allowed only one [relative to speak to the detainees via video call](https://www.financedigest.com/what-are-the-main-challenges-related-to-banks-processing-customer-calls.html "What are the main challenges related to banks processing customer calls? "). I [asked then ‘why didn’t you tell me or my son that it was our last meeting?'” Khin Win](https://www.financedigest.com/hermes-asks-court-to-block-metabirkin-nft-sales-after-jury-win.html "Hermes asks court to block ‘MetaBirkin’ NFT sales after jury win") May, the mother of Phyo Zeyar Thaw, told BBC Burmese. The junta made no mention of the executions on its nightly television news bulletin on Monday. Its spokesperson [last month](https://www.financedigest.com/monkeypox-emergency-could-last-months-with-window-closing-to-stop-spread-experts-say.html "Monkeypox emergency could last months, with window closing to stop spread, experts say") defended the death sentences as justified, and used in many countries. ‘HEINOUS EXECUTION’ The [United States on Monday said it would work with regional allies to hold](https://www.financedigest.com/orban-tightens-hold-over-telco-sector-as-vodafone-sells-hungarian-unit.html "Orban tightens hold over telco sector as Vodafone sells Hungarian unit") the [military](https://www.financedigest.com/military-iot-market-surges-to-usd-76-73-billion-by-2027-propelled-by-11-8-cagr-verified-market-reports.html) accountable and called for a cessation of violence and release of political detainees. The United States condemns in the strongest terms the Burmese military regime’s heinous execution of pro-democracy activists and [elected leaders,” a White House National](https://www.financedigest.com/quebecs-elected-officials-must-swear-oath-to-king-charles-to-sit-in-national-assembly.html "Quebec’s elected officials must swear oath to King Charles to sit in National Assembly") Security Council spokesperson said in a statement. Washington was considering further measures in response to the junta, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a briefing, adding that “all options” were on the table. He [urged countries to ban](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-considers-ban-on-forever-chemicals-urges-search-for-alternatives.html "EU considers ban on ‘forever chemicals’, urges search for alternatives") sales of [military](https://www.financedigest.com/military-iot-market-surges-to-usd-76-73-billion-by-2027-propelled-by-11-8-cagr-verified-market-reports.html) equipment to Myanmar, not do anything that could lend the junta any international credibility. Cambodian [Prime Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-who-will-replace-uk-prime-minister-boris-johnson.html "Factbox-Who will replace UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson?") Hun Sen, chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), last month sent a letter of appeal to junta chief Min Aung Hlaing not to carry out the executions, relaying deep concern among Myanmar’s neighbours. France condemned the executions and called for dialogue among all parties, while Japanese [Foreign Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/james-cleverly-to-remain-uk-foreign-minister-statement.html "James Cleverly to remain UK foreign minister – statement") Yoshimasa Hayashi said the executions would further isolate Myanmar. [China’s foreign ministry urged](https://www.financedigest.com/who-urges-china-to-share-specific-data-regularly-on-covid-situation.html "WHO urges China to share specific data regularly on COVID situation") all parties in Myanmar to properly resolve conflicts within its constitutional framework. Others called for swift sanctions. The U.N. [Security Council should “pass a strong](https://www.financedigest.com/industrial-cyber-security-solutions-and-services-strong-increase-in-user-base-pans-out-for-north-america-to-lead-market.html "Industrial Cyber Security Solutions and Services – Strong Increase in User Base Pans Out for North America to Lead Market") 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 told Reuters. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez in a statement urged Biden to [sanction Myanma Oil](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-spills-and-near-misses-more-ghost-tankers-ship-sanctioned-fuel.html "Oil spills and near misses: more ghost tankers ship sanctioned fuel") and Gas Enterprise, among others. The AAPP [says more than 2,100 people have been killed by security forces](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-says-it-is-committed-to-leading-a-nato-task-force-in-2024.html "Britain says it is committed to leading a NATO task force in 2024") since the coup. The junta says that figure is exaggerated. The true picture of violence has been hard to assess, as clashes have spread to more remote areas where ethnic minority insurgent [groups are also fighting](https://www.financedigest.com/the-tall-group-commended-by-lord-blunkettfor-commitment-to-fight-cyber-crime.html "The Tall Group Commended By Lord BlunkettFor Commitment To Fight Cyber Crime") the military. [Close to a million people have been displaced](https://www.financedigest.com/can-digital-labour-displace-cfos-in-the-close-process.html "CAN ‘DIGITAL LABOUR’ DISPLACE CFOS IN THE CLOSE PROCESS?") by post-coup unrest, according to a United Nations estimate. The executions have shattered [hopes of any peace](https://www.financedigest.com/ukrainian-refugees-hope-for-peace-but-more-expected-to-flee.html "Ukrainian refugees hope for peace, but more expected to flee") agreement, said the Arakan Army (AA), one of more than a dozen ethnic minority armies in Myanmar that have fought the military for years. The executions will [close off any chance of ending](https://www.financedigest.com/power-generation-sector-to-remain-largest-end-user-of-industrial-engines-persistence-market-research.html "Double Acting Hydraulic Cylinders to Hold Close to 50% Market Share: Persistence Market Research") the unrest across Myanmar, said analyst Richard Horsey, of the International Crisis group. “This is the regime demonstrating that it will do what it wants and listen to no one,” Horsey said. “It sees this as a demonstration of strength, but it may be a serious miscalculation.” [(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Ed Davies, Michael Perry, Martin Petty and Susan Heavey; Editing by Toby Chopra, Tomasz Janowski and Grant McCool)](https://www.financedigest.com/talent-acquisition-staffing-technology-and-services-market-to-reach-usd-196-1-bn-by-2028-comprehensive-research-report-by-fmi.html "Talent Acquisition & Staffing Technology and Services Market to reach USD 196.1 Bn by 2028 – Comprehensive Research Report by FMI") --- This blog is powered by Superblog. 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