Myanmar's executed activists: Phyo Zeya Thaw and Ko Jimmy

Myanmar on Monday woke up to the news that the country's military junta had executed four democracy activists, including former lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw and veteran protest leader Ko Jimmy. The BBC spoke to their family and friends weeks before the two men were put to death.

"I love looking at the stars. He knows it very well. At that moment, I knew the sky was the only way for us to communicate," says Thazin Nyunt Aung, recalling the night of 3 June when she found out that the military had said her fiance Phyo Zeya Thaw's execution would go ahead. He had been sentenced in January.

He was one of four activists - including Ko Jimmy, whose real name is Kyaw Min Yu, Hla Myo Aung and Aung Thura Zaw - whose death sentences were confirmed that day. All of them were executed sometime over the last weekend - it's unclear when. A state media outlet reported their deaths on Monday morning.

But weeks ago, Thazin Nyunt Aung was hopeful of a different outcome. "I strongly believe we are connected and he will stay strong," she said.

She had taken solace from the fact that Myanmar had not executed anyone for more than three decades - the last time was in 1988.