Myanmar executes two opposition leaders
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This would be a first since 1989.
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Myanmar executes 2 opposition leaders: Ko Jimmy (left) and Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw (right).
Myanmar's military authorities have executed two opposition leaders, including former National League for Democracy lawmaker Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw, and democracy activist Ko Jimmy, according to Irrawaddy, an opposition news portal on Monday.
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On Friday, both opposition activists, in addition to two other people were sentenced to death. They were only allowed to meet their families via video conference, while authorities denied that executions will be carried out hastily.
The two were sentenced to death in January over charges of being masterminds and participating in armed subversion and activities under the Counterterrorism Law, according to Irrawaddy. The outlet revealed that the sentences were put into execution over the weekend at Insein Prison, Yangon.
Ko Jimmy, 53, was a member of the 1988 student uprising against the military authorities and spent 20 years in prison under previous military administrations on charges related to anti-government activism. After the junta grabbed power in early 2021, Ko Jimmy was arrested for calling for resistance against the junta on social media.
Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw, 41, was a lawmaker who represented the former ruling National League for Democracy party from 2012 to 2021, and was charged with terrorism and organizing illegally armed anti-government insurgencies.
UN Special Rapporteur, on human rights in Myanmar condemned the execution, urging the international community to ensure a quick response to the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
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"These depraved acts must be a turning point for the international community," Andrews said on Twitter.
"The widespread and systematic murders of protesters, indiscriminate attacks against entire villages, and now the execution of opposition leaders, demands an immediate and firm response by member states of the United Nations. The status quo of international inaction must be firmly rejected."
Myanmar's military power grab in February 2021 resulted in major civil unrest, 1,600 casualties, 12,000 people arrested, and 500,000 people internally displaced.
