Secretary-General Guterres strongly condemned the violent crackdown in Myanmar, U.N. Secretary-General’s spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Sunday (Feb. 28). He was deeply disturbed by the rising number of deaths and serious injuries and said the use of lethal force and arbitrary arrests against peaceful protesters was unacceptable.
The U.N. said the Burmese military opened fire on protesters in several cities Sunday (Feb. 28), killing at least 18 people. It was the bloodiest day of demonstrations against the military coup in nearly a month.
Myanmar’s military seized power on Feb. 1 and detained democratically elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and most of the officials in her party’s leadership. Since then, Myanmar has been in turmoil. The military regime has accused Aung San Suu Kyi of fraud in last November’s election. Her party won that election by a landslide.
The Burmese military’s actions indicate that it is sending a strong signal to the Burmese people about the protests that have been going on for nearly a month. The Burmese military’s crackdown is reminiscent of the Burmese junta’s response to the pro-democracy movement with bullets in 1988 and 2007. However, observers argue that the brutality of the military regime has not stopped popular demonstrations and protest movements. On the contrary, how the peaceful protesters are treated is the biggest test for the military.
People have seen in the images captured on video and photos, bodies falling in the streets and people running to escape the bullets. Smoke from tear gas canisters fired by military police was also seen filling the air. The Burmese military opened fire on unarmed protesters Sunday and rounded up protesters before the day’s demonstrations began. The brutal crackdown by the military and police drew strong international condemnation.
“We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately stop using force against peaceful protesters,” said Ravina Shamdasani, a spokeswoman for the U.N. human rights office.
The New York Times, citing witnesses, reported that police opened fire on hundreds of people in the southern city of Tuva (Dawei). Dr. Tun Min, who treated the wounded at a hospital, said at least three people were killed and more than 50 injured. Another doctor confirmed the figures. The doctor asked not to be named for fear of retaliation.
The New York Times confirmed that doctors in Mandalay confirmed three fatal shootings there, and killings in Yangon and Maungtan Meanchey city. A U.N. statement said there were reports of deaths from “live ammunition fired into crowds” in Yangon, Mandalay and Tuvalu, as well as in Tango, Pegu and Megaw.
Before Sunday, the military government under Senior General Min Aung Hlaing had been relatively restrained in its response to the protests, but as demonstrations, marches and widespread strikes continued, there were fears of another bloody crackdown.
At least 21 protesters have now been killed in the riots. The military says one police officer was killed.
After Sunday’s killings began, Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on the Burmese military regime to stop using lethal weapons against protesters and said any casualties would be impartially investigated.
The U.S. Embassy in Burma said, “It is heartbreaking to see so many people lose their lives in Burma. People should not face violence for expressing their disagreement with the military coup. The targeting of civilians is abhorrent.”
The Canadian Embassy said they were shocked. Indonesia, which has played a diplomatic leadership role within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the crisis, is deeply concerned about the current situation in Myanmar.
The U.N. secretary-general urged the international community to unite and send a clear signal to the military that it must respect the will of the Burmese people as expressed through elections and end the crackdown.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s political party and supporters say the results of the November vote must be respected. Aung San Suu Kyi, now 75, has been under house arrest for nearly 15 years during military rule. She is accused of illegally importing six walkie-talkies and violating natural disaster laws for violating the New Crown virus protocol. She is scheduled to appear in court on March 1.
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