April 10, 2025, Lashio, Shan State, Myanmar
On April 10, 2025, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) carried out the public execution of five individuals in Lashio, northern Shan State, convicted of heinous crimes including murder, armed robbery, repeated violence, and sexual assault. The executions were part of a public sentencing event where eight defendants faced trial before a crowd.
Of the eight, five were executed on the spot, two received life imprisonment, and one was given a two-year suspended death sentence. The MNDAA’s Special Region 1 Court, in collaboration with local police, oversaw the proceedings. The MNDAA has controlled Lashio since seizing it during Operation 1027 in August 2024, designating it part of their Special Region 1.
However, reports indicate that, under pressure from the Chinese government, the MNDAA plans to relinquish control of Lashio to Myanmar’s military junta by April 21, 2025. MNDAA forces and administrative units are expected to withdraw to Special Region 1 as part of this transition.
This brutal display of justice underscores the ongoing volatility in Myanmar’s conflict-ridden regions, as rebel groups and the military junta vie for power amid international scrutiny.
