Myanmar‘s military junta Friday declared that it will execute four people. Among the four are Phyo Zeya Thaw, a former lawmaker from Aung San Suu Kyi’s party National League for Democracy, and pro-democracy activist Kyaw Min Yu, popularly known as Ko Jimmy. 

Both Ko Jimmy and Phyo Zeya Thaw were sentenced to death on terrorism-related charges. The other two convicts were sentenced to death for killing a woman whom they claimed was an informer for the junta in Yangon. Junta spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun told AFP that the head of state upheld the military tribunal’s ruling, denying the four persons’ appeals.

According to VOA’s Burmese Service, the military regime has handed down death sentences to 113 dissidents since the February 1 coup last year. However, it has not carried out any of these sentences.

The junta’s decision has received criticism from human rights organizations globally. An Amnesty International spokesperson called on the junta to stop its plans and for the international community to urgently intervene. Phil Robertson, a deputy director at Human Rights Watch, also expressed his concerns. Robertson stated that if the junta follows through on the executions, it will only serve to increase the popularity of the anti-military resistance in the country and lead to global condemnation.

Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary General’s spokesperson, stated that the decision was a “blatant violation of the right to life, liberty and security of person[.]”

A date for the executions is yet to be set. If the junta proceeds with the executions, they will be the first to take place since 1976.