Protest in Myanmar: Myanmar's military government hangs four democracy supporters, UN calls for strong international response

Myanmar's military government (junta) hanged four pro-democracy supporters, including former National League for Democracy (NLD) MP Phyo Jeya Thaw, on charges of aiding terrorist activities. This is the first case of hanging in the South-East Asian country in nearly five decades.

The military administration made public the information about the execution of the four through the state newspaper Mirror Daily on Monday, but did not say when the sentence was given. The military government issued a statement saying that all have been hanged under legal procedures. UN-appointed independent expert on human rights, Thomas Andrew, has called for a strong international response. Human Rights Watch Acting Director (Asia) Ellen Pearson called it a "grossly unjust and politically motivated military action". The US Embassy in Myanmar also strongly condemned the military government's action.

Former MP Thaw was an aide of Aung San Suu Kyi

Former MP Phyo Jeya Thaw alias Maung Kwan (41) was an aide of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Kwan's wife, Thajin Nyunt Ong, said he was not given any information regarding the execution. Kwan was arrested in November last year. He had also been a hip-hop musician before becoming a member of the Generation Wave political movement in 2007. Pro-democracy Kyaw Min Yoo alias Jimmy (53) was arrested in October last year. Apart from these, Hla Myo Ong and Ong Thura Jaw were also hanged for killing a woman in March 2021 on suspicion of being army informers. All of them were sentenced to death in January and April.

NUG termed an attempt to rule by showing fear

Aung Myo Min, Human Rights Minister of the National Unity Government (NUG) set up outside Myanmar after the military seized power in February 2021, strongly condemned the military government's action. "Sentencing them to death is an attempt to rule the people through fear," Min said.

117 people have been sentenced to death

According to Reuters, Amnesty International's regional director Erwin van der Baat said: "The international community must raise its voice, as 117 people have been sentenced to death in similar court proceedings." Rights group AAPP reported that the last time someone was hanged in Myanmar was around 1980.