Rushanara Ali MP Statement on the Executions of Prominent Democracy Activists in Myanmar

Rushanara Ali MP, Chair of the APPG for Democracy in Burma said,

“I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news that the Myanmar military regime has executed four democracy activists this weekend: Ko Jimmy, Phyo Zeya Thaw, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw. 

It is the first time in decades that the Myanmar military has followed through death sentences with executions.”

Rushanara has called on the Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss to urgently take swift action to hold the Myanmar military to account.

This includes:

• Immediately expelling the Burmese military attaché, Captain Soe Aung, from the United Kingdom.
• Increasing the capacity of the FCDO Myanmar team to speed up the implementation of sanctions to stop the flow of revenue to the military.
• Sanction aviation fuel.
• Increasing the pressure on countries still providing arms to the Myanmar military, including Pakistan, China, Russia and India.
• Exploring all avenues for justice and accountability, including support in principle for a referral of Myanmar to the ICC and to join the Rohingya genocide case at the ICJ.