Myanmar: 114 civilians killed in deadliest day since coup

Naypyitaw [Myanmar], March 28 (ANI): At least 114 civilians were killed across Myanmar on Saturday as the military junta continued to crackdown on peaceful protests, CNN reported citing Myanmar Now.
The killings in 44 towns and cities across the country would represent the bloodiest day of protests since a military coup last month.
Among those killed is a 13-year-old who was shot in her house after the junta’s armed forces opened fire in residential areas of Meikhtila.
State television had said on Friday that protesters risked being shot “in the head and back.”
Despite this, demonstrators against the February 1 coup came out on the streets of Yangon, Mandalay and other towns.
On February 1, Myanmar’s military overthrew the civilian government and declared a year-long state of emergency while detaining civilian leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup triggered mass protests which were met by the junta’s deadly violence.
The United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres and the UN office in Myanmar spoke out against the violence.
“The continuing military crackdown, which today resulted in the highest daily death toll since demonstrations against the coup began last month, is unacceptable and demands a firm, unified and resolute international response. It is critical to find an urgent solution to this crisis,” said a statement issued by Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN secretary-general.
“The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the killing of dozens of civilians,” Haq said.
The UN office in Myanmar said it “is horrified by the needless loss of life today with reports of dozens of people shot dead by the military across the country, in the bloodiest day since the coup.”
“The violence is completely unacceptable and must stop immediately. Those responsible must be held to account,” the UN office added.
“As the Special Envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener has said, ensuring peace and defending the people should be the responsibility of any military, but the Tatmadaw has turned against its own people,” it added.

Military chiefs of US, allies condemn violence against unarmed protesters by Myanmar military

United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and his counterparts from various countries on Saturday (local time) condemned the deadly use of force by Myanmar Armed Forces against unarmed protesters.
Chief of Defense from various countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Denmark, Netherlands, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America condemned the bloodshed in Myanmar by the armed forces and associated security services.
Joint Chiefs of Staff released a joint statement saying that “As Chiefs of Defense, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services.
“A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting – not harming – the people it serves. We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions,” the statement added.
In a Tweet, United States Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “The recent reports of violence out of Myanmar (Burma) are deeply disturbing. I stand with General Milley, Admiral Davidson, and other military leaders around the world in condemning this violence.”
Taking to Twitter, US Secretary Antony Blinken also condemned the attack and said, “We are horrified by the bloodshed perpetrated by Burmese security forces, showing that the junta will sacrifice the lives of the people to serve the few. I send my deepest condolences to the victims’ families. The courageous people of Burma reject the military’s reign of terror.”