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YANGONTen of Myanmar’s main rebel groups supported the country’s anti-coup movement on Saturday, fueling fears that a broader conflict could erupt in a country ravaged for decades by intermittent fighting between the army and ethnic armies.
Myanmar has been in crisis since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power on February 1, sparking an uprising that the junta has tried to quell with deadly repressions.
According to a local watchdog group, more than 550 people have died in the anti-coup riots, bloodshed that has angered some of Myanmar’s roughly 20 ethnic groups and their militias, who control large areas of territory mainly in the border regions.
On Saturday, 10 of these rebel groups met virtually to discuss the situation and condemned the junta’s use of live ammunition against protesters.
“The leaders of the military council must be held accountable,” said General Yawd Serk, leader of the rebel group of the Shan State Restoration Council.
Last week, the junta declared a month-long ceasefire with armed ethnic groups, although exceptions could be made if “the government’s security and administrative machinery is invaded.”
The announcement did not include stopping the lethal force against the anti-coup demonstrations.
But Yawd Serk said the ceasefire means that security forces must stop “all violent actions,” including against protesters.
The 10 rebel groups that met online are signatories to a nationwide ceasefire agreement that was negotiated by the Suu Kyi government, which sought to negotiate an end to decades of armed struggle by ethnic militias for greater autonomy. .
But mistrust runs deep towards Myanmar’s ethnic minorities, and Yawd Serk said the 10 national ceasefire signatories would “review” the agreement during their meeting.
“I would like to say that the (10 groups) strongly support the people who are … demanding an end to the dictatorship,” he said.
Last week, a UN special envoy in Myanmar warned the Security Council of the risk of civil war and an impending “bloodbath.”
‘There is no reason for conflict’
The meeting of the rebel groups also comes a week after one of them, the Karen National Union (KNU), seized a military base in the eastern state of Karen, killing 10 army officers. The junta retaliated with air strikes.
The KNU has openly opposed the military junta and said it is protecting hundreds of anti-coup activists.
On Saturday, it condemned the military’s use of “excessive force while engaging in non-stop bombings and airstrikes” from March 27 to 30, which have “caused the death of many people, including children.”
“The airstrikes have also caused a further displacement of more than 12,000 people,” he said.
Board spokesman Zaw Min Tun said the military has only targeted KNU’s Fifth Brigade, which led the seizure of the military base.
“We had an air strike just that day,” he said. AFP.
“We have signed a nationwide ceasefire agreement … If they follow the NCA, there is no reason for a conflict to occur,” said Zaw Min Tun.
Local media and Karen human rights groups have reported multiple bombings and airstrikes across the state in recent days.
‘This madness must stop’
With the board cutting back on Wi-Fi services, mobile data, and imposing a nightly internet blackout that has lasted for nearly 50 days, the flow of information in the country has been effectively limited.
“This madness must end,” said UN human rights rapporteur Tom Andrews in a tweet. “Sanctions and an arms embargo should be imposed to reduce their [the junta’s] access to income and weapons “.
At least two cities saw security forces take violent action before noon on Saturday.
In the eastern state of Mon, a man was shot in the stomach and died on the way to hospital.
“He was trying to help our young protesters,” said a fellow protester. AFP.
Protesters in Yangon, Mandalay and the central city of Monywa continued to come out on Saturday, wearing helmets and sandbags as barricades as they confronted authorities.
But “two were shot in the head,” said a rescue worker in Monywa who had to collect the bodies.
CNN – which was authorized by the board – arrived this week with correspondent Clarissa Ward, who was transported by Yangon in a military convoy.
On Friday, he spoke with two sisters, Shine Ya Da Na Pyo and Nay Zar Chi Shine, who were later detained along with another relative.
Local media reported that they had waved three fingers, a symbol of resistance, while speaking with Ward.
“We don’t know where they have been detained,” said a relative of the sisters who did not want to be identified.
“They seized their phones and we lost connection with them … Our family is doing everything possible for their release.”
CNN did not respond to a request for comment on the incident. – AFP
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