July 29th, 2022
The Brotherhood Alliance members – the Arakan Army (AA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) – have strongly condemned the execution of four political prisoners, pointing out that the Myanmar military’s actions are completely contrary to the path to national reconciliation laid out by ASEAN and the international community.
The joint statement of the three EAOs strongly condemning the execution of the four political prisoners – Ko Jimmy, Ko Phyo Zeyar Thaw, Ko Hla Myo Aung and Ko Aung Thura Zaw – was released on July 27th.
“Killing people who have the ability to lead the country is a form of intimidation to keep the public from opposing them [the military council]. In fact, this dictator has found potentially successful means to threaten dissenters. If the Burmese military continues like this, there will be more public opposition. This will also make other groups unable to endure and intensify the war. It will also only further isolate the junta from the international community,” said Major Mai Aik Kyaw, information officer of the PSLF/TNLA.
The Brotherhood Alliance statement said, “The execution gravely violates existing international norms and conventions on political rights. It also completely contradicts the path of national reconciliation proposed by the international community to resolve the issue peacefully through political means, including the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus agreed upon at the ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. We strongly oppose the execution as it is also completely contrary to the path of national reconciliation proposed by the military council itself.”
In addition, the military council will be held accountable for any consequences resulting from the execution of the political prisoners, the statement said.
“The military council’s execution of the political dissenters on unfounded charges will only deepen regional sentiments and intensify the civil war, and the military council will be held accountable for the consequences,” the three Brotherhood Alliance members said.
The alliance also said it shares the grief of the families of those executed and strongly condemns the actions of the military council.
The Brotherhood Alliance members – AA, TNLA and MNDAA – are also the members of the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), which is composed of EAOs based in northern Myanmar.
The FPNCC includes the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), the Shan State Progress Party (SSPP), the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the United League of Arakan (ULA), the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF), the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), and the United Wa State Party (UWSP).
Sent by NMG