The military in Myanmar has reportedly murdered four pro-democracy campaigners in what is thought to be the first execution in decades.
The four, including the politician Phyo Zeya Thaw and the activist Ko Jimmy, were charged with performing “terror actions.”
They were given the death penalty in an unfair trial conducted behind closed doors.
Families of the deceased met on Monday at Insein jail in a desperate attempt to learn more about their loved ones.
The mother of Zayar Thaw claims that she was not informed of the time of her son’s execution and that this prevented her from making appropriate customary funeral arrangements.
The sister of Ko Jimmy, whose real name is Kyaw Min Yu, had earlier claimed that the remains had not yet arrived.
Each family has requested information about the executions through an application.
The four men were executed, according to Myanmar’s official news site Global News Light, because they “issued orders, formulated plans, and conspired for barbaric and inhumane terror activities.”
It stated that they had been accused of breaking anti-terrorism legislation, but it did not specify when or how they were put to death.
According to the United Nations, these executions are the first since 1988. Hanging has formerly been the method of death in Myanmar.
The military took over the government in 2021, which led to major protests and a military assault on activists and protestors for democracy.
The sister of Ko Jimmy, whose real identity is Kyaw Min Yu, had earlier claimed that the remains had not yet arrived.
Each family has requested information about the executions through an application.
Human rights organisations and opposition forces reacted angrily to the news of the murder.
UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews said, “I am appalled and devastated at the news of the junta’s death of Myanmar patriots and defenders of human rights and democracy.” “The world community must pay its attention to these heinous deeds.”
The murders left the shadow National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG) “very horrified and saddened.”
