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Myanmar’s ruling military junta announced on June 3 its intention to execute four men sentenced to death in grossly unfair closed trials, whose appeals have been dismissed.
Activist Kyaw Min Yu, known as “Ko Jimmy”, and former opposition MP Phyo Zeya Thaw were sentenced to death on January 21 by a military court under the anti-terrorism law. in force since 2014 in this country.
If the executions go ahead, it will be the first judicial executions in Myanmar since 1988.
“The junta’s announced decision to execute the militants illustrates how the military seeks to use all state apparatuses to persecute those who oppose their attempt to return Myanmar to authoritarian military rule,” they said. said in a statement Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, and Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions.
More than 114 people sentenced to death, including 41 in absentia since February 2021
All four were tried and sentenced by military tribunals, and reportedly denied access to a lawyer in the appeals that were dismissed – in violation of international human rights law.
According to independent UN experts, the application of the death penalty was accompanied by extrajudicial executions of civilians by the army, the number of which is currently estimated at nearly 2,000.
Note that Martial Law Ordinance 3/2021, issued by the Myanmar junta in March 2021, provides for the application of the death penalty for 23 vague and broadly defined offences.
Most notably, the ordinance provides that the death penalty can be applied for provisions of treason, which in practice means any criticism of the military.
Since the February 2021 military coup, military courts in Myanmar have sentenced 114 people to death, 41 of them in absentia.
“The thumb of the junta is firmly placed on the scales of justice”
But in Myanmar today, “guarantees of fair trial and due process simply do not exist”. “The thumb of the junta is firmly placed on the scales of justice and, in these circumstances, the imposition and enforcement of the death penalty is particularly odious,” they castigated.
Faced with the increase in human rights violations, experts have urged the international community to exert more pressure on the Myanmar military. Failing that, we can expect “an increasing number of these death sentences pronounced by the junta”.
For the two experts, the international community – mainly member states and the Security Council – must show that these actions will not go unpunished and do more to target the army’s needs for money, weapons and legitimacy.
“The world must not lose sight of the fact that these death sentences are being handed down in a context where the military is killing civilians almost every day as part of its widespread and systematic attack on the people of Myanmar,” the experts concluded.
UN condemns killing of WHO worker in Myanmar, calls for ‘impartial investigation’
The UN denounced yesterday Thursday the murder of a staff member of the World Health Organization (WHO) in eastern Myanmar, the latest in a string of killings that have highlighted the country’s turmoil since last February’s coup.
According to the UN, Myo Min Htut was shot while riding his bicycle on Thanlwin Uyin Road on June 8. She adds that the deceased worked for the WHO as a driver for almost five years and the exact reason for his murder is still unclear.
The Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ramanathan Balakrishnan, said today that the UN Country Team in Myanmar is deeply saddened by the death of Myo Min Htut, a WHO driver for nearly five years.
In a statement, he called on all parties to respect the neutrality of the UN and humanitarian workers. He says he is counting on an impartial investigation and the bringing to justice of the perpetrators of the incident. Mr. Balakrishnan added that during these difficult times, the United Nations team is always present and providing essential humanitarian and development support for the benefit of the people of Myanmar.
NOTE :
The mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is one of the 45 “special procedures” appointed by the Human Rights Council to help it to carry out its tasks in fields as diverse as defending the rights of people of African descent, the fight against discrimination against women and girls, or even the rights of migrants and the fight against extreme poverty. The mandate holders – Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts and members of working groups, considered as the “eyes and ears” of the Council – report on the human rights situation and provide advice on the matter from the view of a particular theme or country. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary.
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