Protesters defy threats as U.N. weighs response
YANGON, Myanmar — Demonstrators defied growing violence by Myanmar security forces and staged more coup protests Friday, while the U.N. special envoy for the country called for urgent Security Council action, saying about 50 peaceful protesters were killed and scores were injured in the military’s worst crackdowns this week.
The escalation of violence has put pressure on the world community to act to restrain the junta, which seized power on Feb. 1 by ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
Large protests against military rule have occurred daily in many cities and towns. Security forces this week escalated their crackdown with greater use of lethal force and mass arrests. At least 18 protesters were shot and killed Sunday and 38 on Wednesday, according to the U.N. Human Rights Office. More than 1,000 have been arrested, the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said.
Protests continued in the biggest cities of Yangon and Mandalay and elsewhere Friday. They were met again with force by police, and gunfire was heard. In Mandalay, a person was fatally shot as residents sought to protect a march by a group of engineers.
U.N. special envoy Christine Schraner Burgener said in her briefing to a closed Security Council meeting that council unity and “robust” action is critical “in pushing for a stop to the violence and the restoration of Myanmar’s democratic institutions.”
“We must denounce the actions by the military,” she said in her briefing, as released by the U.N. “It is critical that this council is resolute and coherent in putting the security forces on notice and standing with the people of Myanmar firmly, in support of the clear November election results.”
She urged council members to hear “the voices of the people of Myanmar” and support Kyaw Moe Tun, the country’s
U.N. ambassador who was terminated by the military after denouncing the coup in a dramatic speech to the General Assembly. The military appointed his deputy, who resigned a day later, and Tun has said he remains Myanmar’s permanent representative to the U.N.
The Security Council took no immediate action. Any kind of coordinated action at the U.N. will be difficult since two permanent members of the
Security Council, China and Russia, are likely to veto it.
Schraner Burgener, a veteran Swiss diplomat, said she hopes to visit Myanmar and use her “good offices” to find a peaceful solution through dialogue.
In addition, YouTube removed channels run by Myanmar’s military for violating its guidelines. The action came as the platform said it is watching for any further content that might violate its rules.