A Total Of 117 Death Sentences Handed Down, The Military Regime Defends The Decision To Execute Four Activists: Legitimate And In The Name Of People's Justice

JAKARTA - The Myanmar military regime has defended its decision to carry out the death penalty for four democracy activists, despite criticism from the United Nations to various countries.

Myanmar's military regime said its decision to execute the four activists was lawful and carried out in the name of justice for the country's people.

Regime spokesman Zaw Min Tun said the executions were not private, but carried out under the law and the men were given the opportunity to defend themselves.

He said the military government knew the execution, the first in decades in Myanmar, would draw criticism from various quarters.

Previously, four Myanmar democracy activists were sentenced to death in secret trials in January and April. They are accused of aiding the civil resistance movement which has been battling the military since last year's coup and a 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 other two people executed were Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw.

State media said "the sentencing has been carried out", but did not say when, or by what method. Previous executions in Myanmar were carried out by hanging.

The Shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which is leading efforts to undermine the junta's efforts to rule Myanmar, said it was time for an international response.

"The global community must punish their atrocities," said Kyaw Zaw, a spokesman for the NUG presidential office.

Separately, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet called the execution a "cruel and regressive move."

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the executions and called again for the release of all detainees held arbitrarily, including Suu Kyi.

In a joint statement, the European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States described the executions as "an act of despicable violence which further demonstrates the regime's disregard for human rights and the rule of law."

Amnesty International's death penalty adviser, Chiara Sangiorgio, said the executions were a "major setback" and the junta "will not stop there."

Human Rights Watch's acting Asia director Elaine Pearson said it was an "act of total atrocities" that "aimed at cooling the anti-coup protest movement."

The execution was the first of some 117 death sentences handed down by military-run courts since the coup, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has tracked arrests, killings and court rulings in Myanmar.

The Myanmar Coup. VOI editors continue to unify the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continue to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.