The situation in Myanmar is getting worse after the brutal crackdown on protesters at the weekend. Despite the severe violence, there were new protests today.
According to estimates by the prisoners‘ aid organization AAPP and local media, the military and police killed several dozen people yesterday alone. AAPP spoke of at least 38 victims, but many observers put the number far higher today.
Martial law imposed in parts of Yangon
The news portal Myanmar Now wrote, citing three hospitals in a tweet of 59 dead and 129 injured in the former capital Yangon (formerly: Rangoon) alone. Here, the military imposed martial law in several parts of the city, as the state TV announced.
Arson attacks on Chinese textile factories
There had previously been arson attacks on several Chinese textile factories in Yangon. Numerous Chinese workers were injured, the Chinese embassy announced on Facebook. She called on the authorities to protect Chinese businesses and Chinese citizens.
It is unclear who was responsible for the arson attacks. With the imposition of martial law, soldiers no longer have to wait for an order from the military command during operations, but can shoot in the affected areas and occupy houses if they see fit.
UN: „Junta leaders belong behind bars“
The UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, was dismayed by the killings and called for international solidarity with them. She had personally heard from contacts in Myanmar „heartbreaking reports of murders, mistreatment of demonstrators and torture of prisoners,“ it said in a statement.
The international community must come together and show solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their democratic aspirations. She also explicitly named regional actors.
The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, wrote on Twitter that he was heartbroken and outraged by the violence over the weekend. „Junta leaders do not belong in power, they belong behind bars.“ The generals would have to be cut off from funding and access to weapons. „I appeal to the UN member states to heed my call to action,“ said Andrews.
