By TON Research Desk

The Death Rulings of Democratic Activists by the Myanmar Junta is an effort to quell the independent dissenting voices in Myanmar. Global anger and condemnation have grown up both locally and internationally over the Myanmar junta’s decision to execute a former lawmaker from ousted State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi’s party and a veteran democracy activist. It will be the country’s first judicial execution of political revolutionists in four decades.

The regime had permitted the orders to carry out the death sentences of four people, and the junta-controlled judiciary had already prohibited the appeals against the death sentences of these two men. The two were arrested late last year from their hideouts in Yangon and were given death decrees on terrorism charges in January by a military court for conceiving armed confrontation operations in Yangon.

One of them was jailed by the earlier army regime in 2008 for founding a covert youth organization for using guerrilla tactics to conduct subversive material against the then junta. He was elected to the Union Parliament in the 2015 general election representing the National League for Democracy (NLD).

The other is a leading member of the 88 Generation Students Group, which rose to prominence during the 1988 student uprising against the then junta. He was also jailed at that time for his anti-regime activism. The two other men were earlier sentenced to death for killing a woman who was an apparent military informer.

The four are the first to have their sentences approved among 114 prisoners including students and anti-coup activists two of whom are minors who have been condemned to death since the coup. These prisoners were subjected to unfair trials and denied their legal rights to counsel and to defend themselves, for their roles in the revolutionary movement against the junta.

On Monday last, global and Myanmar non-governmental organizations and civil society groups equally condemned the execution orders and called the regime for the four to an end to killing orders. There are voices from the United Nations, the international community, and Myanmar democratic forces against the junta’s decision and calls for it to be reversed.

The Myanmar military’s decision of death sentences and to proceed with the execution of two pro-democracy activists has disturbed the international community and Myanmar's democratic forces. As this is a blatant violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

The death sentence imposition by the junta courts on democratic activists and other civilians is a clear violation of Myanmar’s existing laws as well as international laws. Exercising the judiciary lawlessly and with a grudge and resentment to uphold the death penalty is committing a grave crime.

The UN and other international organization along with the national unity government (NUG) announced that all verdicts handed down by the terrorist junta-controlled courts are invalid. The terrorist regime will be held fully responsible for any consequences. The national unity government (NUG) also warned that collaborators of the junta would be punished.

The United States strongly condemns the Burmese military regime’s reported plans to execute pro-democracy and opposition leaders, exemplifying the regime’s disregard for human rights and the rule of law, and urged to release of all those who were unfairly imprisoned.

The death penalty is normally upheld only after the final appeal to the president. This is also a time full of legal and political controversies. And thus this [the execution order] should be seriously considered, including the political consequences that the junta will face]. Personally, as a comrade who worked with him for a long time, and as we are fathers who have daughters, it dismays me.

Myanmar junta’s move towards executing two prominent political leaders will be like pouring gasoline on the fire of popular anti-military resistance in the country.

A junta council working to carry out an execution like this is an unforgivable act, and clear proof of utter disregard for the will of the international community who wish to return Myanmar to democracy, as well as to ASEAN who wishes to resolve the issue through the Five-Point Consensus.

The junta’s execution announcement was an attempt to challenge and destroy future national reconciliation, including the stability of the country. The world condemns in the strongest terms the decision announced by the military regime formed by the 1 February 2021 coup in Myanmar to execute four people.

To targets once again defenders of freedom. The violation of the de facto moratorium regarding the death sentence that has existed for more than 30 years in the country represents a major setback, while 113 death penalties have been arbitrarily imposed by military courts since the military coup. France reaffirms its constant opposition to capital punishment at all times and in all circumstances.”

It is really shocking that the Myanmar military will resume executions in the country. The death sentence has become one of many appalling ways the Myanmar military is attempting to spread fear and continue grave human rights violations, including lethal violence to target the peaceful protesters and other civilians among anyone who opposes the regime rule.