Myanmar’s ruling military junta has executed 4 democracy activists, including Phyo Zeya Thaw, a former hip-hop star turned MP from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party with close ties to Australia. The group was sentenced to death in closed trials in January over charges of conspiring to commit “terror acts”. The executions are Myanmar’s first use of capital punishment since 1988. Since the military seized power in February 2021, it has quashed dissent and arrested an estimated 14,847 people, according to a prisoners advocacy group. More than 2,000 protesters and civilians have been killed by the military since they took power. Suu Kyi is under house arrest and has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for corruption, with more charges to be heard. The military claim the Nobel laureate fraudulently won 2020’s election, and a trial on that is ongoing. There is an election due next year – Suu Kyi’s party is not expected to be allowed to run.