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The UN Security Council has “strongly condemned” the violence against hundreds of civilians in Myanmar since the February 1 military coup.
Demonstrations in Myanmar’s largest city, Rangoon, on Thursday.
The condemnation is the third, and so far the strongest, of the Security Council and comes after two days of long negotiations with China.
“The members of the Security Council express their deep concern over the escalation of the situation and strongly condemn the use of force against peaceful protesters and the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children,” the statement said.
The text is a watered-down version of the proposal presented by Western countries at the council, where according to the AFP news agency it was also stated that Western countries are willing to take more steps, that is, sanctions.
China was completely opposed to this, and the country is also said to have been behind a change in which “killing” protesters was replaced by “killing.”
According to diplomats, the fact that the Security Council was finally able to unanimously endorse a conviction was a victory in itself and “a very important sign.”
However, so far the previous convictions have not affected the Myamar military government.
The UN special envoy to Myanmar on Wednesday warned the Security Council of a growing crisis, the risk of civil war and an impending massacre.
“I call on the Security Council to consider all possible measures to do the right thing and prevent a catastrophe,” Ambassador Christine Schraner Burgener said at a special meeting of the New York-based Council.
So far, more than 500 people have lost their lives in protests against the military government.
