Burma’s Military Regime Executes Pro-Democracy Leaders
Statement By Administrator Samantha Power
For Immediate Release
On Saturday, that regime executed four pro-democracy champions, including a former member of parliament, for exercising their fundamental freedoms. We join the people of Burma in mourning the unjust and unconscionable loss of Ko Jimmy, Phyo Zeya Thaw, Hla Myo Aung, and Aung Thura Zaw, and we stand in solidarity with the victims’ families and loved ones.
These heartbreaking and revolting executions—Burma’s first in more than 40 years—are a sign of desperation, clearly intended to intimidate the people into submission. But the spirit of the people of Burma will not be suppressed. Following reports of the executions, demonstrators in Rangoon unfurled a banner that read “We will never be frightened.”
USAID continues to stand with the people of Burma as they demand the freedoms that are rightfully theirs.
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Progressive Voice is a participatory rights-based policy research and advocacy organization rooted in civil society, that maintains strong networks and relationships with grassroots organizations and community-based organizations throughout Myanmar. It acts as a bridge to the international community and international policymakers by amplifying voices from the ground, and advocating for a rights-based policy narrative.