Why Myanmar executed 4 political prisoners
Kyaw Min Yu, a pro-democracy activist talks to journalists in 2012. He was executed by Myanmar army. (AP Photo)
Four democracy activists have been executed by Myanmar's military in what is believed to be the first use of capital punishment in decades.
The four, including former lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw from Aung San Suu Kyi's party, were accused of committing "terror acts".
Veteran democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, and former National League for Democracy lawmaker Phyo Zayar Thaw were executed, along with Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw, the Global New Light of Myanmar reported.
The executions were carried out despite worldwide pleas for clemency for the four political prisoners, including from the United Nations and Cambodia.
Why they were executed: The four had been charged under the counter-terrorism law and the penal code and the punishment was carried out according to prison procedure, the Global New Light Of Myanmar reported.
Last month, military spokesman Zaw Min Tun defended the death penalty, saying it was used in many countries, reported Reuters. "At least 50 innocent civilians, excluding security forces, died because of them," he told a televised news conference.
Global condemnation: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the army's decision, calling it "a blatant violation to the right to life, liberty and security of person".
"I am outraged and devastated at the news of the junta's execution of Myanmar patriots and champions of human rights and democracy," said UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews, reported BBC.
Myanmar junta's execution of four men, including a former member of parliament and a prominent democracy activist, is "an act of utter cruelty," Human Rights Watch said, reported AFP.
Military coup in Myanmar: The country has been in turmoil since the army ousted the government in February 2021. The country's military had alleged voter fraud during elections in 2020, which Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won by a huge margin.
The army gave this as the justification for its coup. Suu Kyi has been detained since then and faces a slew of charges in a junta court.
The number of people killed in the military’s crackdown on its opponents has rose above 2,000.