The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) is appalled by the rejection of the appeal by activist Khaw  Min Yu and lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw and two other political prisoners against the death sentence  imposed by a military tribunal. 

Since the military coup, Myanmar has witnessed a rise in the number of death sentences issued by military  tribunals, accompanied by a growing prevalence of extrajudicial killings involving protestors and pro democracy activists in Myanmar. In addition to violence resulting directly from the coup, the military junta  has resumed its military campaigns across Myanmar, leading to large-scale killings, arbitrary detentions and displacement of civilians in several states. 

The Tatmadaw has no legitimacy as a government and must cease the atrocities committed against the  people of Myanmar. Execution of world-renowned human rights activists, lawmakers and political actors  will only further contribute to the Tatmadaw’s besmirched history of human rights violations and  atrocities and deprive the Myanmar of the peace, stability and growth it deserves. 

ADPAN echoes the sentiment of the ASEAN Parliamentarian for Human Rights (APHR) that the executions  are nothing less than cold-blooded political assassinations and call on the Tatmadaw’s senior leadership  to return democracy to Myanmar and put an end to executions and extrajudicial killings.