Myanmar Gwangju Solidarity condemns the Myanmar military for the execution of pro-democracy activists while ignoring the voices of the international community!

The Myanmar military announced that it hanged four pro-democracy figures, including two people who were under indictment: Phyo Zeyar Thaw, former NLD member, who was arrested July 25 for alleged acts of terrorism against the military regime, and prominent pro-democracy figure Kyaw Min Yu.

Myanmar Gwangju Solidarity strongly condemns the Myanmar military’s ruthless decision.

A Secret military tribunal convicted the four execution victims on fabricated allegations of terrorism, and the tribunal did not inform the bereaved families of the execution beforehand, nor the location and condition of the bodies after execution at Yangon Insein Prison.

Last June, we raised the alarm over the Myanmar military’s decision to approve the implementation of the death penalty, describing it is a crime against human rights and a provocation against the international community.

However, the Myanmar military carried out executions for the first time in 45 years despite such warnings and concerns from the international community. The executions by the Myanmar military violate the Myanmar people and the international community’s expectations of a peaceful restoration of the country, which the coup has destroyed.

The atrocities that Myanmar’s military has committed do not stop there. In the lawless situation after the coup, about 110 pro-democracy figures have been sentenced to death, and they are in danger of not knowing when they will be executed as well. In addition, more than 14,000 innocent civilians have been detained. The Myanmar military must immediately release citizens and carry out its promise to restore democracy.

Such an injustice won’t be tolerated. Both in Myanmar and Korea, as well as other parts of the world, people are outraged while condemning the brutality of the Myanmar military. The Myanmar military will surely pay the price for the indignation its brutality provokes. The citizens of Gwangju, who fought the military dictatorship to the bitter end in 1980, will fight together in solidarity to finally achieve democracy.