Junta spokesperson General Zaw Min Tun said that it was the decision of the prison authorities not to hand over the dead bodies of the pro-democracy activists to their families after they were executed.

General Zaw Min Tun, Spokesperson of the military council, made this comment at the 18th press conference of the regime in Nay Pyi Taw on July 26.

Major General Zaw Min Tun said that not returning the bodies of the victims to their families was the decision of the prison authorities, and according to the prison law, in cases where riots and protests may occur, the deceased are cremated under the judgement of prison authorities.

General Zaw Min Tun also said that the death sentence was imposed because Myanmar has not signed the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, also known as the ICCPR Protocol.

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

After that, the prison authorities also refused the family members' request to hand over the bodies of the victims.

The military council's execution of pro-democracy activists drew widespread criticism from several organizations at home and abroad, including the United Nations.