UN envoy calls for action to restore order in Myanmar
THE UN special envoy for Myanmar has called for urgent Security Council action to reverse the military coup, saying about 50 peaceful protesters had been killed in the military’s worst crackdowns this week and scores more were seriously injured.
Christine Schraner Burgener said in her briefing to a closed 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. “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 November election results.”
The February 1 military coup ousted the government of Aung San Suu Kyi after her National League for Democracy Party won 82 per cent of the vote in the November elections. The military contends there was ballot fraud, but the electoral commission upheld the results.
Ms Schraner Burgener said a peaceful solution requires the immediate release of Ms Suu Kyi and president Win Myint.
She reiterated an earlier appeal to the international community not to “lend legitimacy or recognition to this regime that has been forcefully imposed”, stressing that “nothing but chaos has since followed”.
The UN has received confirmed reports that many of those who died were killed by live ammunition, she said.
The escalation of violence by security forces has put pressure on the world community to act to restrain the junta.
Large protests against military rule have occurred daily in many cities and towns, and security forces escalated their crackdown this week with greater use of lethal force and mass arrests.
At least 18 protesters were shot dead last Sunday and 38 on Wednesday, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
More than 1,000 people have been arrested, the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said.