Myanmar's Punishment in Demanding Democracy
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| Associated Press |
"Today it was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the 1st of February.""We had today -- only today -- 38 people died. We have now more than over fifty people died since the coup started, and many are wounded."Christine Schraner Burgener, United Nations special envoy on Myanmar"The systematic brutality of the military junta is once again on horrific display throughout Myanmar.""I urge members of the UN Security Council to view the photos/videos of the shocking violence being unleashed on peaceful protesters before meeting in Friday's close-door session."Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar
"The problem for Asean is that Myanmar’s armed forces have brought the bar so low — without wiggle room — with their naked seizure of power after losing yet another election [November ballot]in a landslide.""The Myanmar junta puts up no pretence of popular legitimacy, only a raw power grab that has turned the entire population against it."Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor of political science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand"This isn't a non-lethal tactic to disperse protesters. This is an attack on peaceful protesters throughout the country.""And these are not crowd control techniques, this is an attack on civilians and people protesting against the military takeover."John Quinley, Senior Human Rights Specialist, at Fortify Rights
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| Protesters run from police firing tear gas during a pro-democracy demonstration in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Wednesday. CNN |
According to witnesses, police and soldiers in Myanmar gave little warning as they opened fire on protesters. Last month's military coup in the country after a landslide election returned Aung San Suu Kyi's government to power outraged citizens who mounted massive protests against the military junta, shouting their anger and rage, insisting that democracy must return to the country and Aung San Suu Kyi released to take her rightful place at the country's head.
The military leaders warned the population not to continue their protests. In response all over the country's cities protests have continued. The military and the police have responded with escalating violence. On Wednesday 38 people were killed, representing the most violent day since protests began. "It's horrific, it's a massacre. No words can describe the situation and our feelings", said activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi. Among the dead were four children.
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| Attribution: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty |
In Yangon, at least eight people were killed, according to witnesses, when security forces opened sustained fire in the north of the city. "I heard so much continuous firing, I lay down on the ground, they shot a lot", 23-year-old Kaung Pyae Sone Tun, said, describing the panic and the horror. At nightfall residents of Yangon lit candles and held prayers for the dead.
According to Save the Children, a 14-year-old boy was reported shot dead by Radio Free Asia when a soldier on a passing convoy of military trucks, shot him. Foreign ministers from southeast Asian neighbours failed to unite behind a call for the release of Suu Kyi and the restoration of democracy, as they pleaded for restraint from the military.
| Protesters attend the funeral of Kyal Sin, a 19-year-old demonstrator killed on Wednesday © Reuters |
Labels: Mass Protests, Military Coup, Myanmar/Burma, Violence
posted by Pieface @ Friday, March 05, 2021
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