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| The activists were arrested after an army-led coup last year and accused of committing "terror acts". They have been sentenced to death in a closed-door trial that rights groups criticized as being unjust. Ex-lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw was among those executed. (File photo by= Getty Images) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] The US has urged China to increase pressure on Myanmar following the military junta's execution of four democracy activists. A state department spokesperson said China could influence Myanmar more than any other country - but China said it did not interfere in other countries' internal affairs, BBC reported.
Meanwhile, Myanmar's junta insisted the men "deserved many death sentences". A spokesman said the four had been able to defend themselves in court. State Department spokesman Ned Price said there could be "no business as usual" with the junta. "We are calling on countries around the world to do more. We will be doing more as well," he said. He called on all countries to ban sales of military equipment to the country and "refrain from lending the regime any degree of international credibility".
Rights group Amnesty has warned that 100 more people in the country have been sentenced to death after being convicted in similar proceedings. The executions have been roundly criticized by the international community. In a joint statement, the EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, the UK, and the US called them "reprehensible acts of violence that further exemplify the regime's disregard for human rights and the rule of law".
