Political prisoners who were arrested for engaging in anti-coup activities have faced prosecution by the Military Council on multiple charges in some cases, and death penalty has been imposed not just once but in some cases been sentenced to death three times.
As of May 19th, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) has compiled lists revealing that 114 individuals presently incarcerated in prisons and sentenced to death in relation to their involvement in the Spring Revolution, and the anti-Junta movement.
There are also an additional 42 individuals who have been sentenced to death in absentia. The total count of people condemned to death by the Military Council stands at 156, as reported by AAPP.
According to AAPP, on May 18th, the special court at Insein Prison pronounced delivered verdicts against 5 young men, resulting in a combination of death sentences and life imprisonments. Among them, one individual faced a second death sentence, while the remaining four were handed a combination of death sentences and life imprisonment.
These young individuals were arrested under allegations of shooting at a train with security police personnel on board that circled Yangon in August 2021. Their arrest took place in September of the same year, and after a duration of over a year, the Military Council handed down the verdict.
U Than Soe Naing, a political analyst told the Than Lwin Times " the significant number of death sentences is a clear indication of the deliberate repression by the Military Council against individuals associated with the Spring Revolution, displaying brutality serves as a menacing tactic to suppress dissent and instill fear among the population. It appears that the Military Council remains convinced of its ability to independently orchestrate the upcoming election. As a preemptive measure, they are employing severe punishments to eradicate any affiliation with opposition forces”.
From an analysis of AAPP's list the Than Lwin Times found that a total of 186 individuals have received life imprisonment sentences. Additionally it was determined that a minimum of 9 people have faced the imposition of both death sentences and life imprisonments.
Furthermore, 7 individuals who had initially been sentenced to life imprisonment have now received sentences ranging from 3 to 10 years in prison. It is alarming to note that there are 5 individuals who have been subjected to the harsh sentence of death three times each.
Even though they have already faced the death penalty once, there are still 4 political prisoners who have been sentenced to additional prison terms ranging from 3 years to over 200 years.
A Union Supreme Court lawyer expressed the view that a thorough evaluation of the entire legal process is necessary to determine the fairness of a death sentence before it can be considered for examination and approval.
"From a legal perspective, it is essential to conduct a comprehensive analysis of each case to determine whether the punishments align with fairness and adhere to the prescribed laws. Approaching judgments solely from a political standpoint undermines their fairness and consistency with the law. Therefore all applications, submissions, and judgments should
undergo meticulous scrutiny on a case-by-case basis, ensuring the identification of a fair and consistent perspective”, he pointed out.
Last year, on July 23rd and 24th, the Military Council carried out the execution of democracy activists Ko Jimmy (Ko Kayw Min Yu), Ko Phyo Zayar Thaw, Ko Aung Thura Zaw, and Ko Hla Myo Aung, all of whom had previously received death sentences.
The executions conducted by the Military Council elicited strong protests and condemnation from both the domestic population and foreign nations. As a consequence, additional international sanctions were imposed on the Military Council in response to their actions.
Despite facing significant pressure and condemnation, the Military Council persistently defies these circumstances and continues to impose death sentences and additional penalties upon individuals affiliated with the resistance forces engaged in anti-Junta activities.
