9 KILLED, SUU KYI ACCUSED OF GRAFT

Junta accuses her of taking US$600,000 and 11kg of gold

THE military junta yesterday accused Aung San Suu Kyi of accepting a US$600,000 illegal payment and more than 11kg of gold. “We have learnt Daw Aung San Suu Kyi herself took this $600,000 and seven visses (11.2kg) of gold. The anti-corruption commission is investigating,” the military’s spokesman, Zaw Min Tun, said in the capital Naypyidaw.

Meanwhile, nine protesters were killed yesterday as the United Nations condemned the growing violence against anti-coup demonstrations.

More than 2,000 people have been arrested and the death toll has climbed to more than 60 in the post-coup crackdown.

In central Myanmar’s Myaing township, six people were killed yesterday as security forces cracked down on a protest.

“Nine men were shot dead while eight people were wounded — with one man in critical condition,” a rescue worker said.

A witness said five of them were shot in the head.

The UN Security Council unanimously agreed on a statement on Wednesday condemning the Myanmar military’s use of violence against peaceful protesters.

It was the second time in just over a month that the council’s 15 members, including China, — a traditional ally of Myanmar’s generals — made a rare show of unity over the crisis.

“Now it’s time for de-escalation. It’s time for diplomacy. It’s time for dialogue,” said Zhang Jun, China’s UN ambassador.

The United States also applied fresh pressure with sanctions against two adult children of junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing.

In the Sanchaung township here, people had another sleepless night as security forces raided apartments searching for lost police weapons.

“They used sound bombs on every street,” said one resident.

“We are asking friends who are outside of their homes not to come back here tonight because of the situation.”

State-run newspaper the Mirror yesterday carried an announcement that the Arakan Army (AA) — which fights for more autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine population in northern Rakhine state — was no longer considered a terrorist organisation.

Herve Lemahieu, a Myanmar expert from Australia’s Lowy Institute, said the move was likely because the military wanted to end the distraction of fighting the AA so it could focus on the protests.

An Amnesty International report yesterday accused the military of using “battlefield weapons” and carrying out premeditated killings orchestrated by their commanding officers.

The rights group catalogued the use of firearms that are “completely inappropriate for use in policing protests”, including light machine guns, sniper rifles and semi-automatic rifles.