Junta struggling to tighten its grip as people resist
THE strong, united demand for democracy by the people of Myanmar has created ‘‘unexpected difficulties’’ for the military in consolidating power after its February coup, and risks bringing the administration of the nation to a standstill, the United Nations envoy for the country says.
Swiss diplomat Christine Schraner Burgener told a closed UN Security Council meeting yesterday that her discussions in the region had ‘‘compounded’’ her concern that the situation in Myanmar was deteriorating in all areas.
She pointed to a resurgence of fighting in ethnic areas, more poor people losing their jobs, civil servants refusing to work to protest the coup, and a brewing
crisis of families in and around the main city, Yangon, being ‘‘pushed to the edge’’ for food,
going into debt and trying to survive.
Burgener spoke by video from
Bangkok after travelling to Jakarta to meet participants in the April 24 meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), which includes Myanmar and was attended by the junta’s military commander, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.
She said she again requested to visit Myanmar. Her previous requests have been turned down by the military.
The February 1 coup reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in Myanmar, which for five decades had languished under strict military rule that led to international isolation and sanctions.
Since the Asean summit, demonstrations have continued in many parts of Myanmar against the junta, as have arrests and beatings by security forces, despite an apparent agreement by Hlaing to end the violence.
Many demonstrators have expressed discontent at the Asean meeting’s outcome, especially its failure to demand the release of political leaders.
Burgener cited ‘‘a resurgence of fighting in ethnic areas ... with reports of continued air strikes displacing thousands and killing innocent civilians’’.
She also noted ‘‘the reported use of improvised explosive devices’’ and ‘‘concerning reports that civilians, mostly students from the urban areas, are now receiving training in the use of weapons’’.
Burgener said fatalities were rising every day, citing the latest figures from the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners that more than 756 people have been killed and 3450 arrested, charged or sentenced.