NAYPYIDAW, KOMPAS.com – Group monk The most influential Buddha in Myanmar ask military junta to end violence against protesters.
Top-level monks from the Sahgha Maha Nayaka (Mahana) Committee accuse Myanmar security forces of torturing and killing innocent civilians.
This was reported by the news portal Myanmar Now on Wednesday (17/3/2021) citing a draft statement of attitude from the Mahana committee.
One of the monks members of the Mahana committee said the monks planned to release a draft of the statement on Thursday (18/3/2021) after consulting with Myanmar’s Minister of Religion.
Myanmar monks play an important role in upholding democracy in Myanmar.
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Launch Channel News AsiaThe monks were at the forefront of the “Saffron Revolution” in 2007 against the military junta that was still in power in Myanmar.
The revolution helped pave the way for democratic reforms in Myanmar until Myanmar was finally back in the grip of the junta after military coup on February 1st.
The draft statement marks a rift between the monks, who usually work with the government, and the junta Myanmar military.
Since the military took power by overthrowing the de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the wave of demonstrations against the military coup in Myanmar has become unbearable.
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Military junta then committing violence and even not reluctant to kill to break up the demonstration.
Until Tuesday (16/3/2021), the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners reported that more than 180 demonstrators were killed.
On Tuesday evening local time, security forces opened fire and a 28-year-old man was killed during a demonstration in Yangon.
The military junta disabled mobile internet services, making verification of information difficult. On the other hand, only a few Myanmar people have installed Wi-Fi services.
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The residents fled
The junta declared martial law for parts of Yangon. Thousands of Hlaingthaya residents in Yangon fled out of fear.
On Sunday, Chinese-funded factories in Hlaingthaya were set alight by demonstrators. This was met with brutality by the military junta in which 40 people were reported to have been killed by security forces.
“Here it’s like a war zone, they’re shooting everywhere,” a labor regulator in the county told Reuters.
Two doctors told Reuters that there are still injured people who need medical treatment in the area, but that the army has blocked access to it.
On the other hand, Chinese state media have warned that Beijing can act if Chinese-owned businesses are harassed.
Many people in Myanmar believe that China supports the military junta.
Also read: Former Myanmar Soldier Reveals Reasons for Dissenting and Choosing to Join the Anti-coup Movement
Charges of Treason
France has said the European Union will issue sanctions against the mastermind behind the coup in Myanmar on Monday next week.
On the other hand, Myanmar’s shadow government formed by deposed members of the parliament, accuses the military junta of treason.
Myanmar’s disbanded parliamentary special envoy to the United Nations, Sasa, said the military junta had betrayed it.
“The generals have committed acts of treason every day. Taking what they want for themselves, denying the rights of the people, and oppressing those who stand in their way,” Sasa said in a statement.
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Sasa himself was charged by the military junta for campaigning for civil disobedience and asking the international community to impose sanctions on Myanmar miluters.
State media in Myanmar reported that authorities have detained an official from the Open Society Myanmar, an organization affiliated with the Open Society Foundation.
The Open Society Foundation is a philanthropic organization founded by billionaire George Soros.
Myanmar security forces are also looking for 11 other Open Society Myanmar employees on suspicion that the group is providing funds to opponents of military rule.
Also read: Raided by the military, residents of poor cities in Myanmar fled by pickup and truck
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