Seven students of Dagon University, Yangon – Ko Khant Zin Win, Ko Thura Maung Maung, Ko Zaw Lin Naing, Ko Thiha Htet Zaw, Ko Hein Htet, Ko Thet Paing Oo and Ko Khant Linn Maung Maung – were sentenced to death penalty in November 30th 2022 for their involvement in the anti-regime protest that seeks freedom from the militaristic lives in Myanmar which is far from fulfilling and safe. It was expected that the execution would take place on 7th December 2022 in the early morning, however they have yet to be carried out, which means there is still time to save the lives of these students. They were accused of involvement in the shooting of Global Treasure Bank Branch Manager, Saw Moe Win, who was a former military officer. Therefore, the UN foresee this crime as an act of vengeance towards the death of the veteran

This is not the first death sentence given to the civil society. Since the February 2021 coup, in total, 139 civilians were sentence to death penalty. Four of them were executed on 25th July; Kyaw Min Yu aka Ko Jimmy, Phyo Zayar Thaw, Hla Myo Aung, Aung Thura Zaw. The act of wrath caused several international entities to corner the military Junta to stop several other human rights violations and torturing. The United Nations have also tried to encourage the government to abolish such acts, but no responses were given by the Junta. 

Another pattern is also found where tribunal hearings are announced in the last minutes before the agenda so that detainees do not have access to contact lawyers nor their family. Whereas it is essential for the detainees to defend themselves before being judged and convicted in a very inhumane way. 

The Military Junta was settled to take part and comply with the Five Point Consensus (FPCs) which was arranged and hopefully  be implemented by them. But Instead, two days after the ratification of FPCs, the Military Junta withdrew their commitment. This then fueled more on the torture, death penalty, and extrajudicial killings in Myanmar. 

With this statement, the civil society organization of Anti-Junta Military would like to push International Governmental entities to;

• ToASEAN  takes immediate and urgent action to stop the execution of the mentioned 7 students and to conduct fair trials as well as proper due process.

• We request an urgent communication from the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to stop the killing;

• .This is also to encourage the Government of Indonesia to be more prompt in handling Myanmar’s death penalty cases, since Indonesia will take part  as the next Chair of ASEAN 2023. 

Sincerely,

The Coalition on Anti – Junta Regime.

Signatories

The Commission for Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KontraS)

Initiatives for International Dialogue

Milk Tea Alliance Indonesia

HapusHukumanMati

SUARAM Malaysia

Cross Cultural Foundation Thailand

Task Force Detainees of the Philippines

Medical Action Group Philippines

Odhikar Bangladesh

MASUM India

Advocacy Forum Nepal

ASEAN Youth Forum 

ALTSEAN-BURMA
Milk Tea Alliance Friends of Myanmar
Milk Tea Alliance Calendar Team

Progressive Voice

ECPM (Together Against the Death Penalty)

Kenyas in Action

Abolition Now Tour  RDC

AJAR,

SafeNet

Kurawal Foundation

#ANT Kenya

#ANT Lebanon

#ANT Morocco

#ANT Texas