Asia Pacific: International: News: Hankyoreh Mobile

On the 27th (local time), Myanmar Armed Forces Day, more than 110 people, the most in 54 days after the coup, died due to hard-line repression by the army and police. Military police shot not only protesters but also private homes, and a 1-year-old baby was shot with a rubber bullet in the eyes and a 14-year-old girl died. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of 12 countries, including Korea, the United States and Japan, issued a statement on the 28th condemning the use of lethal force by the military and police in Myanmar, but criticism is growing that it is time for the international community to go beyond mere condemnation and take practical action. A local Internet outlet in Myanmar reported that tens of thousands of protesters called the day of resistance and held mass protests in Yangon, the largest city, and Mandalay, the second largest city, and that at least 114 people died due to it. bloody repression by the military and the police. Foreign media such as (DPA) reported that protests continued in major cities on the 28th as well, and funerals for those killed the day before were held in various places. Myanmar Armed Forces Day was established to commemorate the start of an armed struggle against the Japanese army on March 27, 1945, during World War II, and the name was changed to “Day of the day”. The Supreme Commander of the Myanmar Army, Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power through a coup on 1 last month, said in a television speech that day, “the military is trying to join hands with all the people to save democracy. ”

Contrary to the words of Min Aung Hlaing, the military sent a flagrant threat message to citizens through the state broadcaster (MRTV) on the 26th, saying: “You should know that you may be in danger of being shot in the head and back of a previous tragic death. ” On the 27th, the protesters were violently repressed with live ammunition and rubber ammunition, as threatened the day before. Barricades set up by protesters also set fire to neutralize them, attacking citizens by storming residential areas in search of protesters. Local media reported citing residents that a 40-year-old man was burned alive after being shot in the chest in Mandalay. The media reported that he, a father of four, said, “Please help mom,” before he died. The military police did not hesitate to attack babies and children in particular. A one-year-old girl was reportedly hit by a rubber bullet outside her home on the outskirts of Yangon. In addition, the British broadcast (BBC) said that a 5-year-old baby was also critically beaten by a firearm by the army in Mandalay, but the death reports are mixed. Pan Yi Pew, a 14-year-old girl, died in Maytilla, Mandalay. His mother heard the soldiers approach the house and tried to close all the doors, but it was one step late. “I saw her fall, and at first I thought she was just slipping, but blood spurted from her chest,” said the mother. In Myanmar, on the 23rd, a 7-year-old girl runs from her home into her father’s arms and dies after being shot by the military. According to the Association for the Support of Political Offenders of the Civil Organization (AAPP), 423 people (approximately 440 people) died until the 27th after the coup, including 20 minors. “They are killing us like birds or chickens,” said Tu Ya Jo, a resident of the city of Minjan in Mandalay. Even in our house. However, we will continue to protest ”. On the afternoon of that afternoon, at least two people were killed in an air strike with fighter jets on the border of Thailand, where a large number of Karen ethnic groups reside, said a spokesman for the Karen Peace Support Network, a private organization. . The Provisional Government of the Committee of Representatives of the Federal Council (CRPH), organized by some members of the League of Democratic Peoples (LND) of the national advisers of Aung San Suu Kyi, announced its solidarity with the minority armed groups. It appears to be a step after the KNU) announced that it had captured a post in the Myanmar army. Voices of intense criticism of the Myanmar military were raised in many parts of the international community. US Secretary of State Tony Blincoln tweeted: “We were shocked by the bloodshed by the Burmese security forces (Myanmar). This shows that the military will sacrifice people’s lives for the minority.” Minister Blincoln added: “I send my condolences to the bereaved families.” State Department spokesman Ned Price also tweeted: “The United States will remain responsible for the violence and coups committed by the Burmese military.” He added: “I urge all countries to speak with one voice in the face of brutal violence against the people of Burma.” The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of 12 countries, including South Korea, the United States and Japan, also issued a statement on the 28th in which he said: “I condemn the use of lethal force by the military and police of Myanmar against citizens unarmed.

However, criticism is mounting that the international community must not only speak out, but also act seriously. Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, said in a statement that “as Myanmar military forces slaughter people, words of condemnation or concern (from the international community) ring empty for Myanmar.” “This is the right place for the UN Security Council to review and act on a crisis of this magnitude. If the UN Security Council cannot act, it should immediately convene an emergency international summit on Myanmar. “Specifically, he added that exports from the oil and gas sector, which are the financing line of the Myanmar military, should be blocked. and arms imports must be blocked. Eight countries, including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand, also sent delegations to the Myanmar Armed Forces Day event on the 27th. of the Vice Defense Minister, the highest ranking among them, and Commander Min Aung Hlaing declared that “Russia is a true friend.” If Russia and China, the permanent members of the UN Security Council, do not approve it, it will be difficult impose large-scale sanctions at the Security Council level on the Myanmar military By Jo Ki-won, Staff Reporter