Myanmar: Military executes four democracy activists including ex-MP

[mountaineer]

Myanmar: Military executes four democracy activists including ex-MP
By Zubaidah Abdul Jalil
BBC News
July 25, 2022

Four democracy activists have been executed by Myanmar's military in what is believed to be the first use of capital punishment in decades.

The four - including activist Ko Jimmy and lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw - were accused of committing "terror acts".

They were sentenced to death in a closed-door trial that rights groups criticised as being unjust.  ...

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the executions in Myanmar, which is also known as Burma. "Such reprehensible acts of violence and repression cannot be tolerated. We remain committed to the people of Burma and their efforts to restore Burma's path to democracy," he tweeted. ...

In 2021, the country's military seized power, an event which triggered widespread demonstrations, prompting a military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, activists and journalists.  ...

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Wow, that Blinken tweet will certainly make the despots sit up and take notice. 

[mountaineer]

Since the country’s pro-democracy government was ousted last February (see timeline), an estimated 14,000 civilians have been arrested and 2,000 others have been killed amid fighting and a military crackdown. The international community has largely refused to recognize the government, though Russia and China have both reportedly provided material support to the regime.