Death penalty for pro-democracy activists in Myanmar: China does not interfere in anyone's internal affairs, China's response to US demand
The US has asked China to increase pressure on Myanmar's military junta following the execution of four pro-democracy activists in Myanmar.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price has said that "China can use its influence on Myanmar better than any other country."
But the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said in response that his country does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
It should be noted that the Myanmar army recently executed four pro-democracy activists, including a former member of parliament.
Former lawmaker Phew Zia, author and social activist was accused of terrorism by Jimmy, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thora Za.
Military action against pro-democracy activists in Myanmar
Jimmy, 53, was a member of Burma's pro-democracy Movement 88 Students group, which gained notoriety for its anti-military student movement in 1988. He was imprisoned several times for being a part of the democratic movement. He was released in 2012.
He was arrested again in October last year. He was accused of hiding weapons and explosives in an apartment in the capital Yangon and acting as an adviser to the so-called National Unity Government.
Phyu Zia Tha, 41, is considered a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also a member of the Legislative Assembly from her party.
He was a former hip-hop artist who often faced trouble for his anti-military lyrics. He was arrested in November on alleged terrorism charges.
Not much is known about the other two activists, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thora Za. He was sentenced to death for killing a woman who had provided information to the military junta.
Meanwhile, in a joint statement by the European Union, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the sentence given in Myanmar was described as "a reprehensible act of violence against the military junta of Myanmar." is the latest example of disregard for human rights and the principles of the rule of law.'
The statement urged Myanmar to implement its responsibility to establish peace in the country through negotiations under the agreement reached with the assistance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
However, Scott Marcell, the former US ambassador to Myanmar, said that the ASEAN project had died last year.
This agreement is often touted as a solution going forward, when it is anything but.
It should be remembered that including ASEAN, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet and international human rights organizations have also condemned these punishments.
"This cruel step is part of the military junta's campaign to suppress its own people in the country," Michelle Bachelet said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Myanmar's military government's decision to punish the four activists a "flagrant violation of the right to life and liberty."
On the other hand, Myanmar's military government has intensified operations against local militias and opposition activists. Action is also being taken against those who are believed to have anti-army views.
Myanmar's military claims that the country's general election, in which Aung San Suu Kyi's party won an overwhelming majority, was rigged. Myanmar's Election Commission officials deny the allegation. According to him, there is no evidence of rigging in the election.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been under house arrest since the overthrow of the democratic government and various cases have been filed against her, including for violating the country's Official Secrets Act. In this case, a prison sentence of up to 150 years can be awarded.
According to the Association for Political Prisoners, which keeps statistics of those killed and imprisoned in Myanmar, 14,847 people have been arrested so far, while 2,114 have been killed by military personnel.
Myanmar carries out death penalty for first time since 1988
The sentences were announced in June by Myanmar's military, which overthrew the democratic government in 2021, and the decision was condemned internationally.
Myanmar's military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy in February 2021, after which protests that erupted in the country were severely suppressed.
In opposition to the military, Myanmar's political parties announced a so-called government of national unity. The coalition, made up of Myanmar pro-democracy figures, representatives of armed ethnic groups and Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, condemned the sentences, saying they were "deeply saddened and shocked."
The coalition has appealed to the international community to "punish the murderous military junta for atrocities and killings."
On the other hand, Myanmar's official news agency Global News Light of Myanmar has said that "these four people were sentenced to death for giving instructions, arranging and conspiring to commit inhumane acts of terrorism."
According to the Global News Light of Myanmar, the four men were sentenced under the country's anti-terrorism laws. Details of when and how the punishment was handed down have not yet been provided.
According to the United Nations, Myanmar has carried out the death penalty for the first time since 1988. In the past, the death penalty in Myanmar was carried out by hanging.
According to details, the families of these four men are waiting to be questioned by the authorities at Ansin Prison in Yangon, the capital of the country.
Jimmy's sister told that the bodies have not yet been handed over to him.
According to the Reuters news agency, the wife of Saz Phew Zia Tha, Thien Naiant Aung, said that she was not told about her husband's death as a result of the sentence. A request has been submitted by the families of these four persons to get information about the punishment.
The trial of the four men was conducted behind closed doors, which human rights organizations described as unfair and non-transparent.
Phyu Xia Tha and Kiva Min Yew, also known as Jimmy Koo, unsuccessfully appealed against the sentence.
'Myanmar army cannot be treated as normal'
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said business as usual cannot be done with Myanmar's military junta.
He said that the United States is currently examining all such measures that can stop the financial resources of the military government of Myanmar.
He asked all countries supplying military weapons to Myanmar to "ban the sale and refrain from providing any kind of international credibility."
He said that we are asking the countries around the world to do something about this issue more than before. We will too.
''Myanmar should use its laws and constitution to solve the problems,'' when the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs was asked about the death penalty given to pro-democracy activists by the Myanmar army, Zhao Lijian said۔