Myanmar military junta tortures three young LGBTQI+ activists to death

Three young LGBTQI+ members of "The Ants Humanitarian Aid Team" operating in Dawei, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar, team leader Thar, member Myat Thu, and finance officer Leon, were illegally arrested, tortured, and brutally executed by the Myanmar military junta. The organization "Sisters2Sisters | Myanmar" issued a statement about the incident and called on the international community to take immediate action.

The executed were activists who dedicated their activities to community empowerment and women's solidarity, and were at the forefront of the freedom struggle despite discrimination. The "The Ants" team, which was formed on October 1, 2023 with just five members, implemented temporary education, emergency relief, and emergency support programs for displaced families in the Dawei region.

According to local media and field sources, the military junta launched a large-scale offensive on villages in Yebyu Township, which encompasses the Dawei Special Economic Zone, on July 7, 2026.

On July 9, Thar, Myat Thu, and Leon were confronted by a military convoy as they attempted to flee the advancing attack and move towards Nat Twin Village, where they were detained along with other villagers. While other detained civilians were later released, the military detained three youth activists at Khamaungchaung Monastery and continued their offensive by burning civilian houses in surrounding villages.

On the morning of July 20, villagers investigated a palm oil plantation near Ekani Village in Nabulai Township after encountering a strong odor and discovered the bodies of Thar, Myat Thu, Leon, and another unidentified villager. According to local media reports, the bodies were found in a severely decomposed state, with stab wounds and obvious signs of torture, almost to the point of beheading. The identities of the young activists were confirmed through clothing and identity documents found on them. Local residents held a funeral for the four on the same day.

Sisters2Sisters made a clear assessment of the situation in a statement. The deliberate targeting, unlawful detention, severe torture and extrajudicial execution of unarmed humanitarian workers constitute a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions and constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The organization said the tragic deaths of these three young LGBTQI+ activists reflected the harsh reality facing Myanmar’s youth after five years of military coup attempts. The military junta is targeting, torturing and killing civilians, whether they are armed or not, including those providing life-saving humanitarian assistance.

Sisters2Sisters calls on international human rights organizations, youth coalitions, LGBTQI+ organizations, humanitarian agencies, regional institutions, and the global community to take the following immediate steps to ensure that this grave crime does not go unpunished:

1. Formally document and condemn as war crimes — officially recognize and document the unlawful detention, torture, and execution of humanitarian aid workers in Tanintharyi Region as grave war crimes.

2. Pursue international criminal justice — hold the military command structure and perpetrators criminally liable through global international justice mechanisms.

3. Sever the resources fueling the terrorist military's killing machine — cut off all remaining channels supplying aviation fuel, weapons, and financial flows that enable the terrorist military to sustain its violence.

The organization concluded its statement by saying:

“We honor the immense courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of Thar, Myat Thu, and Leon. We will continue to demand justice and fight relentlessly until full accountability is realized."

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