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Global condemnation after bloodiest day since Myanmar coup
YANGON, March 28, 2021 BSS/AFP) – Defence chiefs from a dozen countries
on Sunday jointly condemned the bloodbath in Myanmar a day earlier, when at
least 90 people — including several children — were killed after security
forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the generals ousted and detained
civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering mass protests demanding a return
to democracy.
The junta on Saturday staged a major show of might for its annual Armed
Forces Day as the death toll since the February 1 coup climbed to at least
423, according to a local monitoring group.
The defence ministers of 12 countries including the United States,
Britain, Japan and Australia condemned the Myanmar military’s use of lethal
force against civilians.
“A professional military follows international standards for conduct and
is responsible for protecting — not harming — the people it serves,” the
rare joint statement said.
“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.”
Funerals were held Sunday for some of the victims, after the bloodiest day
since the putsch.
In Mandalay, the family of Aye Ko, a father-of-four, commemorated his life
at a service after he was killed overnight.
“We are told by the neighbours that Aye Ko was shot and thrown into the
fire,” a relative told AFP.
“He was the only one who fed the family, losing him is a great loss for
the family.”
Despite the dangers, protesters hit the streets again in the cities of
Bago and Monywa, and in the small town of Moe Kaung in Kachin State,
according to local media.
A day earlier, violence erupted across the country with the military using
live rounds in nine regions, including the largest city Yangon, local
monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said.
By sunset, AAPP said at least 90 people had been killed. Local media,
however, put the death toll higher at 114.
“Junta forces shot machine guns into residential areas, resulting in many
civilians, including six children between ten and sixteen years old, killed,”
AAPP said.
“The fact the illegitimate military regime is targeting children is a
grave act of inhumanity.”
Rebels in eastern Myanmar’s Karen state said they had been targeted in air
strikes late Saturday, hours after the ethnic armed group seized a military
base.
Hsa Moo, an ethnic Karen and human right activist said three people were
killed and at least eight were injured.
It was the first air assault in years in the state, and targeted the Fifth
Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU) — one of the country’s largest
armed groups — which says it represents the ethnic Karen people.
The junta did not immediately comment, and there was no official
confirmation of any casualties.
– ‘Harmful to state tranquillity’ – There was a grand parade of troops and
military vehicles in the capital Naypyidaw on Saturday where junta leader
General Min Aung Hlaing defended the coup and pledged to yield power after
new elections.
But he also issued a threat to the anti-coup movement, warning that acts
of “terrorism which can be harmful to state tranquillity and security” were
unacceptable.
Armed Forces Day commemorates the start of local resistance to the
Japanese occupation during World War II, and usually features a military
parade attended by foreign military officers and diplomats.
The junta announced that eight international delegations attended
Saturday’s event, including those of China and Russia — with a state media
broadcast showing Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin in the
audience.
The US embassy in Yangon urged American citizens to limit their movements
on Sunday.
“If you must travel move cautiously and ensure you have the ability to
communicate with loved ones while travelling,” American Citizen Services
tweeted.
The warning came a day after the US cultural centre in Yangon had shots
fired at it Saturday.
Overnight, at the Miss Grand International beauty pageant in Bangkok, a
tearful Myanmar contender, Han Lay, pleaded for peace.
“I deeply feel sorry for all the people who have lost their lives on the
streets,” she said in an emotional address, before singing Michael Jackson’s
“Heal the World”.
“Please help Myanmar, we need your urgent international help right now.”
The Myanmar embassy in London on Sunday confirmed the ambassador met with
Suu Kyi’s youngest son Kim, 44, last week, who reiterated a request to speak
to his mother by telephone.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1300HRS