At least seven protesters were killed at a pro-democracy rally on Thursday, Reuters news agency Yangon said, while Amnesty International accused Myanmar’s military government of escalating its repressive tactics and using strike tactics to deal with demonstrations. In addition, the U.N. Security Council unanimously condemned violence against protesters in Myanmar on Wednesday and called on the country’s military to exercise restraint.
One protester was killed in Yangon and six others died in the central Burmese town of Myaing, Reuters said, citing local media reports.
Hundreds of anti-junta protesters were trapped late into the night yesterday as Burmese security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets in two Yangon districts.
More than 60 protesters have been killed and some 2,000 arrested by security forces since the Feb. 1 coup that ousted elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
A spokesman for Burma’s military government reiterated today that the army does not want to hold power forever and will organize legislative elections, but did not give a clear date for them.
Earlier, the U.N. Security Council unanimously condemned violence against protesters in Myanmar last night and called on the Burmese military to exercise restraint. It was the second Time in just over a month that 15 council members, including China, expressed solidarity on Myanmar.
In a statement, the UN Security Council said it “strongly condemns the violence against peaceful protesters, including women, youth and children”; “the Council calls on the military to exercise maximum restraint and stresses that the Council is closely monitoring the situation. “
However, language condemning the military’s coup seizure of power and threatening possible further measures was removed from the text of the British-drafted statement due to objections from China, Russia, India and Vietnam.
Separately, in an effort to increase pressure on the Burmese military, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against two children of Burma’s defense force chief Min Aung Hlaing and six companies they control on Oct.
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