ASEAN Foreign Ministers must denounce executions of civilians in Myanmar, Southeast Asia MPs say

Jakarta, 23 September 2024—The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) strongly condemns the executions of two Myanmar pro-democracy activists by the State Administration Council (SAC) today and expresses its deepest condolences to the families and friends for the loss of their beloved ones.

Kaung Htet and his wife Chan Myae Thu were executed at 04:00 AM Myanmar time on 23 September 2024 for alleged involvement in Yangon’s Insein Prison bombing on October 19, 2022.

Kaung Htet and Chan Myae Thu.

“Break the silence now,“ said Mercy Chriesty Barends, APHR Chairperson and member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives. “ASEAN foreign ministers must speak up against the SAC execution policy.”

The junta military arrested the couple and sentenced them to death for their alleged involvement without due process and fair trial. Chan Myae Thu is the first woman who was executed since the military coup in February 2021, according to the Women’s Peace Network.

Mercy Chriesty Barends, APHR Chairperson and Indonesian MP. ©APHR2024

“We are gravely concerned that the death penalty is being used to silence persons with dissenting views in Myanmar,” said Arlene D. Brosas, APHR Board Member and the Philippines Member of Parliament.

APHR has received a report from a reliable source that the SAC will execute five other pro-democracy activists on 24 September 2024. They are Zaryaw Phyo (32), San Min Aung (24), Kyaw Win Soe (33), Kaung Pyae Sone Oo (27) and Myat Phyo Pwint (unknown).

Arlene Brosas, APHR Board Member and the Philippines MP.

The five activists were sentenced to death on 18 May 2023 in a closed-door civilian hearing at Yangon’s Insein Prison for their alleged participation in a shooting on a train in 2021. APHR was informed that they were brutally tortured and experienced sexual violence without any access to reliable legal support.

“This must stop,” said Charles Santiago, APHR co-chairperson and former Malaysian parliament member. He further said, “ASEAN foreign ministers must denounce such an unjust act. They must be united to push the SAC to terminate their execution and release them from prison.” 

Charles Santiago, APHR Co-Chairperson and former Malaysian MP. ©APHR2024

The Myanmar junta military will execute over 120 detainees in the coming weeks, who are mostly activists and human rights defenders. Fifteen of them are women human rights defenders.

APHR urges the international community to hold the SAC accountable for the arbitrary arrest and detention of over 27,000 people, as well as its commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, as a fundamental step toward ending impunity in Myanmar