(ANSA) — BANGKOK, July 25 — Four Burmese pro-democracy activists have been executed for helping organize “terrorist attacks,” marking the first executions of political prisoners since the 1980s. This is what the state media reported today in Burma, where the military junta that overthrew the democratic government led by Aung San Suu Kyi has been in power since February 2021.
The four activists executed are former MP and hip-hop artist Phyo Zeya Thaw, 41, Kyaw Min Yu, 53, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw.
Phyo Zeya Thaw – who was elected to the ranks of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy in 2015 – was found guilty of organizing some armed attacks on security forces. Kyaw Min Yu, on the other hand, was found guilty of inciting dissident messages on social media for armed resistance.
The four executed activists were sentenced in camera last August and their appeal was dismissed in June. According to Voice of America’s Burmese-language service, at least 113 activists are awaiting execution following the death sentences imposed under General Min Aung Hlain’s military regime.
It is estimated that at least 2,000 people have been killed by the regime since the February 2021 coup. An accurate count of casualties is made impossible by the fact that the armed resistance has moved to the countryside and in many cases joined ethnic militias, which for decades have been embroiled in conflicts with the central army, which denies them greater autonomy in Conf (ANSA) areas .
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