In Myanmar, the number of victims of the crackdown on protesters exceeded 500



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The Association for the Support of Political Prisoners (AAPP) said it had confirmed a total of 510 civilians killed, but warned that the actual number of victims would likely be significantly higher.

These casualties have been confirmed by world forces condemning the ruthless military campaign against the movement demanding the restoration of democracy and the liberation of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Washington has suspended a trade pact with Myanmar, and United Nations chief Antonio Guterres has called for a united global front and pressure on the junta, killing more than 100 protesters during a bloody weekend of violence.

Daily concentrations of military personnel throughout Myanmar are assembled with tear gas, rubber bullets and combat ammunition.

The UN Secretary General has called on the Myanmar authorities to make a “serious democratic transition.”

“It is completely unacceptable to see violence against people at such a high level that so many people have died,” Guterres told a news conference.

“We need more unity … (and) more commitment from the international community to pressure us to ensure that the situation changes,” he said.

The administration of US President Joe Biden announced on Monday that the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which provided ways to promote business but did not have a comprehensive agreement, would remain frozen until democracy is restored in Myanmar.

“The United States strongly condemns the brutal violence against civilians by Burmese security forces,” said US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, using the former name Myanmar.

This declaration essentially removes Myanmar from the United States Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which gives developing countries more favorable terms to trade with the United States if they comply with the relevant rules.

On Saturday, the army marked Armed Forces Day with a large military parade in the capital Neipide.

But that day, a bloody crackdown was also carried out in the country, killing at least 107 people, including seven children.

Despite the bloodshed, protesters reappeared on the streets of Myanmar on Monday and mourners made a three-finger sign that had become a symbol of resistance to the junta during the funeral.

Following UK calls for urgent talks, the UN Security Council will meet on Wednesday to discuss the situation, diplomatic sources said.

France has condemned the “blind and deadly” violence, and China also joined the international community of concern on Monday, urging all parties to exercise restraint.

The Kremlin, for its part, said it was “deeply concerned” by mounting civilian casualties, despite acknowledging that Russia was forging ties with the Myanmar military.

The United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Myanmar in response to the coup and repression, but so far diplomatic pressure has not persuaded the generals to change course.



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