Myanmar junta executes four democracy activists in first capital punishment for more than 30 years

The four had been charged under the country’s counterterrorism law and were sentenced to capital punishment in January, writes Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Myanmar’s military has executed four pro-democracy activists, including a former lawmaker from ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, in the country’s first use of capital punishment for more than three decades.

Veteran democracy figure Kyaw Min Yu, 53, who was better known as Jimmy, was executed on charges of terrorism alongside former National League for Democracy lawmaker Phyo Zeyar Thaw, 41, and activists Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw, the junta said on Monday.

The four had been charged under the country’s counterterrorism law and were sentenced to capital punishment in January, in a closed-door trial, for “murdering innocent civilians”. They were accused of helping militias fight against the military regime.