Junta’s execution of democracy activists could hamper political dialogue: PPST

Yangon, July (27)

The military council’s brutal action against pro-democracy activists may make it more difficult for an inclusive dialogue to resolve the political crisis, the Peace Process Steering Committee (PPST) told Than Lwin Times.

The military council announced on July 25 that the punishment for the democracy activists-Ko Jimme, Ko Phyo Zeyar Thaw, Ko Hla Myo Aung and Ko Aung Thura Zaw-has been conducted under the prison’s procedure.

But,the junta did not say when, or by what method. The families asked for the dead bodies of their loved ones to be returned, but the military council didn’t give them back.

The PPST spokesperson, Col. Saw Kyaw Nyunt, said that if they really did something that shouldn’t be done, it could harm the inclusive political dialogue and cause more challenges.

The military council executed pro-democracy activists despite the objections from the international community and ASEAN special envoy.

Colonel Saw Kyaw Nyunt said that due to the brutal actions of the military council, more unwanted problems may arise in the implementation of the federal democratic union in the future.

The PPST announced on July 6 that it will try to create an environment where the political issues can be solved by political means and will hold a political dialogue with all the participants who should be involved.

The Peace Process Steering Committee (PPST) is a group made up of ten ethnic armed organizations that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).

The Arakan Liberation Party (ALP); Karen Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC); Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), Pao National Liberation Organization (PNLO); All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF); Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) and New Mon State Party (NMSP) are among the PPST members.

The remaining Karen National Union (KNU); Chin National Front (CNF) and Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) have reduced their political cooperation after the fourth conference (second session) of the PPST leaders held in late March.

News – Than Lwin Times