New York [US], March 4 (ANI): Condemning Wednesday’s firing on the pro-democracy protesters by the Myanmar military, UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener has said that it was the “bloodiest day” since the February 1 coup.
“Today was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the first of February. Only today, 38 people died…Now, more than 50 people died since the coup started,” Schraner Burgener said during a press briefing.
She further said that the incidents in Myanmar are not an internal affair as they affect the stability of the region.
“We know that ethnic armed organisations are determined not to allow this to continue. They also said that they’d suspend the dialogue with the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military]. If both sides start to use violence, then we have a situation of a real war in Myanmar,” she added.
The demonstration against the Myanmar Army, which ousted the democratically elected government of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, has entered its fourth week.
Security forces have begun a violent crackdown on protestors in towns and cities across the country.
At least 18 people were killed and more than 30 injured in Myanmar on Sunday, as police and military forces “confronted peaceful demonstrations,” the UN Human Rights Office said.
The reported casualties marked Sunday as the deadliest day since the military seized power on February 1.
The UN Human Rights Office said it had received “credible information” about the use of deadly force against peaceful protesters in “several locations” in Myanmar on Sunday.
“Deaths reportedly occurred as a result of live ammunition fired into crowds in Yangon, Dawei, Mandalay, Myeik, Bago and Pokokku,” a statement from spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said. It also noted reports about the use of tear gas, flash-bang and stun grenades.
Meanwhile, a Myanmar-based human rights group says at least 15 reporters and camera crew have been detained while covering the protests as of Tuesday, reported NHK World.
Despite increasing international pressure to restore the democratically-elected government, the Myanmar junta have ignored the condemnation and has continued to violently suppress the protests against its unlawful takeover of the country. Several ousted lawmakers have even designated the military as a terrorist organisation.
On Saturday, Myanmar‘s military has fired the country’s United Nations Ambassador after he appealed to the UN General Assembly (UNGA) for international help to overturn the coup.
Moreover, Myanmar‘s ousted civilian leader Kyi, who was detained following the coup, said that two more charges have been added to those filed against her since the coup.
Hundreds of people have been arrested since the coup, according to activists, the latest a journalist for the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), who live-streamed security forces outside his apartment on Monday in the coastal town of Myeik, where he had been filming protests. DVB confirmed the arrest, Bangkok Post reported.
The military coup of February 1 halted Myanmar‘s tentative steps towards democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule and has drawn condemnation and sanctions from the United States and other Western countries, and growing concern among its neighbours. (ANI)
