New civilian victims protest against military coup in Myanmar / Article / LSM.lv

In Myanmar, young civilian victims protest against a military coupUldis Ķezberis, LR100:00 / 00:32

—

In Southeast Asia, Myanmar has been protesting for more than two months against the military coup of 1 February, which overthrew the democratically elected parliament and government.

Even today, thousands of people took to the streets of cities across the country, realizing that they could fall under the hammer of junta repression.

In Mounshawa, central Myanmar, security forces shot dead a group of protesters, killing at least four people. Another protester was shot dead in the southern city of Taton, Reuters reports.

Myanmar’s neighbor India has condemned the military junta’s violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the Indian Foreign Ministry, called for a negotiated solution.

“We believe that the rule of law must prevail. We stand for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar. We have called for the release of political prisoners and supported any attempt to address the current situation. We regularly discuss this issue with our international partners and in the UN Security Council, taking a balanced and constructive position, “said Bagchi.

More than 550 civilians, including 46 children, have been killed by Myanmar security forces since the coup, local human rights activists say. More than 2,700 people have been arrested.

If in the first weeks the protests of pro-democracy activists were more numerous, now the opponents of the military are choosing a different tactic. They hold so-called “guerrilla demonstrations”, where a small number of people gather to protest and disperse for a short time before the security guards arrive.

Protesters also tend to gather at night to light candles and thus show resistance to the destroyers of democracy.

The junta has tightened control over information in the country. Yesterday, the authorities cut off mobile data and ordered ISPs to turn off wireless internet.

The military has declared 18 celebrities, including several social network influencers and journalists, in search of, or support for, pro-democracy protests. They are accused of publishing material inciting the soldiers of the armed forces to revolt. He faces three years in prison.

The US State Department condemned the disconnection of the Internet in Myanmar and hoped that it would not silence the voices calling for the restoration of democracy.

Myanmar’s ten largest rebel groups said today that they supported the people’s protests against the coup and condemned the junta’s violent crackdown on the peaceful population. These groups represent various ethnic minorities who have long been fighting for greater autonomy with their arms in their hands.

Rebel support for the protests has raised concerns that violence may escalate in Myanmar. UN Special Envoy to Myanmar Kristine Schrenerer Burgener warned this week that the country was on the brink of civil war.

–