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YANGON: Myanmar’s junta faced fresh international criticism on Friday (April 2) for the deaths of more than 40 children and the “enforced disappearance” of hundreds of people in its crackdown on anti-coup protests.
The ruthless repression by the armed forces of demonstrations against his takeover on February 1 has left 543 civilians dead, including 44 children, according to the Association of Assistance for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring organization.
In addition to dissolving the protests with tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition, the security forces have detained some 2,700 people.
Violence has increased in recent weeks, and Save the Children said the number of youth deaths has more than doubled in the past 12 days.
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“We are dismayed that children continue to be among the targets of these fatal attacks, despite repeated calls to protect them from harm,” the charity said in a statement.
“It is especially shocking that several of these children were reportedly killed in their home, where they should have been safe from harm.”
The authorities have made numerous arrests during night raids on the homes of people suspected of supporting the demonstrations or the civil disobedience movement that has emerged with the aim of preventing the military from ruling the country.
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Human Rights Watch said the junta had “forcibly disappeared” hundreds of people, refusing to confirm their location or allow access to lawyers.
“The military junta’s widespread use of arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances appears designed to strike fear into the hearts of anti-coup protesters,” said Brad Adams, HRW Asia Director.
“Concerned governments should demand the release of all the disappeared and impose specific economic sanctions against the leaders of the junta to finally hold this abusive army to account.”
READ: UN condemns violence against protesters and deaths in Myanmar
RAPIDLY DETERIORATED SITUATION
The outrage of world powers has been mounting at the increase in violence, and on Thursday the UN Security Council “unanimously expressed its deep concern over the rapid deterioration of the situation”, condemning the violence against peaceful protesters.
Britain announced a new round of sanctions, this time targeting the broad business interests of the board, as well as a contribution of US $ 700,000 to the UN’s efforts to document grave human rights violations in Myanmar.
But so far, neither the sanctions nor calls for restraint have shown any signs of holding back the junta as it struggles to quell widespread unrest.
There were more protests across the country on Friday, according to local media reports.
READ: Myanmar ‘traitors’ harassed in online campaign against coup
In Yangon, people left flowers at bus stops and other public places in memory of those killed in the crackdown.
The board has limited communications in an effort to stop the spread of news, and on Thursday ordered the complete shutdown of wireless Internet services.
A directive from the Ministry of Transport and Communications on Thursday instructed that “all wireless broadband data services be temporarily suspended until further notice,” according to a statement posted online by local provider Ooredoo.
Fiber-based landline Internet connections still worked, albeit at drastically reduced speeds.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI CHARGE OF SECRETS
Meanwhile, the ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged with a new criminal charge, accused of violating an official secrets law.
The 75-year-old, an icon of democracy in Myanmar for decades, faces a series of charges and a conviction would see her barred from political office for the rest of her life.
He appeared in court via video link on Thursday and appeared to be in good health, according to his legal team, despite two months in detention.
READ: Myanmar humanitarian workers arrested, intimidated and injured, says Red Cross
Meanwhile, another leading figure in Myanmar’s fight for democracy, Mya Aye, was charged on Thursday under a law against inciting people to commit crimes, her lawyer told AFP.
Mya Aye is one of the leaders of Generation 88, a veteran pro-democracy group that came of age during an uprising against the junta government in 1988.
That movement was brutally repressed by the military, with thousands of people shot dead by the soldiers.
The military has defended its coup with accusations of fraud in the November elections that Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy overwhelmingly won.
