Executed Activist's Wife Requests World to Stop More Myanmar Junta Hangings
By The Irrawaddy 2 August 2022
Ma Nilar Thein, the wife of executed pro-democracy activist Ko Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, has asked the international community to stop more junta hangings in Myanmar.
Following the junta’s executions of four democracy activists, including the prominent 88 Generation Students leader, the remaining 77 political prisoners on death row are at risk. The junta’s spokesman said the regime will execute more prisoners.
Ma Nilar Thein urged all other governments and international organizations to take more effective action against the junta.
“I don’t want to see any similar cases like my husband’s,” the widow said.
Ma Nilar Thein, another 88 Generation Student leader, is in hiding for her anti-junta activism. She has a teenage daughter.
The junta also hanged former National League for Democracy lawmaker Ko Phyo Zeya Thaw and activists Ko Hla Myo Aung and Ko Aung Thura Zaw in late July less than two months after regime leader Min Aung Hlaing ordered the executions.
They were the first executions of prisoners since the 1970s.
Their trials were heard by closed military tribunals.
Shortly before the executions, three of their families were allowed to have video meetings lasting about 20 minutes with the prisoners but no one was warned about the executions.
The junta refused to return their bodies or give any details on the executions.
Ma Nilar Thein’s statement said the junta was guilty of murder and war crimes.
“Unjust executions insult all of us, including diplomatic missions and ASEAN human rights organizations pressuring the State Administrative Council not to carry them out,” she wrote.
The National Unity Government’s (NUG) foreign minister Daw Zin Mar Aung asked the world at the weekend to act against the junta instead of legitimizing it or issuing ineffective statements of regret, to stop more civilian deaths.
“We appreciate the statements of condemnation after the execution of our friends but without practical action, they are hollow words. Effective, decisive, united collective action is needed immediately,” she said.
Daw Zin Mar Aung called on the United Nations Security Council to send troops and weapons using the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle, for UN member states and the international community to cut junta revenue streams, suspend all its international representation and recognize the NUG as the official government.
