Execution of Pro-Democracy Activists in Myanmar Imminent

According to Women’s Peace Network, on 23 September 2024, Myanmar military junta executed husband-wife pair Maung Kaung Htet and Chan Myae Thu.

Reported by ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR), five other democracy activists are purported to be executed by the military junta.

Current Situation

In their statement, Women’s Peace Network reports that the Myanmar military executed Maung Kaung Htet and his wife Chan Myae Thu for their alleged involvement in the 2022 Insein Prison bombing. Ostensibly, in 2023, a crackdown of dissent in the nation had been promised by the military leader.

Another group of five prisoners, Kaung Pyae Sone Oo, Kyaw Win Soe, San Min Aung, Zayyar Phyo and Myat Phyo Pwint are to face execution, according to a statement by APHR. On 18 May 2023, the five were sentenced to death in a closed-door civilian hearing for their alleged participation in a train-shooting in 2021.

In both cases, APHR and Women’s Peace Network state, there was a lack of due process and just trial. Women’s Peace Network further relayed that the allegations against the accused are not exact, referring to the executions as ‘sham.’ Notably, the military junta did not issue any statement on the current executions.

The term ‘political prisoners’ have been used to describe the five detainees, on the basis of their alleged reason for execution – reasons reported by the military. As per Myanmar Now, the court hearings took place in closed-door settings with security reinforcements in place during the time.

What the UN Says

Nicholas Koumjian, head of the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), stated that the organization is closely monitoring reports of potential executions in Myanmar. He warned that executions for several individuals sentenced to death in 2023 could occur imminently, raising serious concerns about human rights violations. Preparations for the executions, including health checks and family visitations, suggest that the hangings may occur soon.

Koumjian emphasized the importance of adhering to fair trial standards. He noted that executing individuals without such standards could be classified as crimes against humanity or war crimes, underscoring the need for accountability in the justice system.

The Junta’s Response

While no statement on the current executions have been released, the Myanmar junta defends its actions by framing the executions of political activists as necessary for law and order. It labels those sentenced to death as terrorists or violent criminals, linking them to armed resistance groups. After executing four activists in 2022, the junta claimed they orchestrated terror against the state, portraying opposition groups as threats to stability.

In response to international condemnation, the junta remains unconcerned, dismissing criticism from human rights organizations as interference. This rigid stance reflects the junta’s resolve amid growing resistance and battlefield losses. Despite mounting pressure, it continues to use executions to maintain control.

Myanmar’s History of Capital Punishment

In July 2022, Myanmar’s military executed four pro-democracy activists, marking its first use of the death penalty since the late 1980s. This shocking act followed the February 2021 military coup, which escalated the junta’s repressive tactics and ignited widespread protests for democracy. The junta responded with extreme force, arresting thousands of activists, politicians, and journalists.

Pictured left, Phyo Zeya Thaw. Pictured right, Kyaw Min Yu (Jimmy Ko). Courtesy of MixMag and Radio Free Asia.

The executed individuals included former lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw and activist Ko Jimmy, both convicted in closed military trials. Their executions drew significant condemnation from human rights organizations and global leaders, highlighting the junta’s disregard for human rights.

Since the coup, the junta has intensified its campaign against dissent. Extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances have become common, with many activists facing summary executions under the guise of counter-terrorism. Additionally, numerous death sentences have been issued against protesters and opposition figures, raising concerns about further executions.

To note, prior to 2022, the death penalty had not been carried out for decades, and Myanmar was considered a country with an informal moratorium on executions.

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