In the aftermath of the bloodiest day of repression since the coup d’etat of 1er February, with at least 90 dead including several children – violence strongly condemned by the international community – the demonstrators took to the streets once again, Sunday March 28, in Burma. Many funerals were to take place across the country. Flag in hand, demonstrators took to the streets of Bago, northeast of Yangon, and in the small town of Moe Kaung in Kachin State (north) early Sunday morning.
Activists for the restoration of democracy called for new demonstrations on Saturday, the day when the army organizes a gigantic parade every year in front of the army chief, now head of the junta, General Min Aung Hlaing. “At least 90 people [ont] been killed “ as night fell on Saturday, said the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local non-governmental organization (NGO) which records the death toll since the putsch. The number of deaths since the coup d’etat of 1er February is at least 423, according to the AAPP.
“We condemn the use of force”
The heads of the defense forces of twelve countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Japan and Germany, condemned on the night of Saturday to Sunday the use of lethal force by the Burmese army against civilians. “As Chiefs of Staff, we condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed persons by the armed forces of Burma and associated security services. A professional army follows international standards of conduct and has a responsibility to protect the people it serves, not to harm them ”, says this rare joint press release.
Previously, the United Nations (UN) had referred to ” reports “ stating “Dozens of dead, including children, hundreds of injured”, and its secretary general, Antonio Guterres, condemned “In the strongest terms” this “Killing”. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said to himself “Horrified” over there “Terror” reigning by the Burmese military. His British counterpart, Dominic Raab, felt that the junta had crossed a “New level” in repression.
On Saturday evening, at the Miss Grand International beauty pageant in Bangkok, tearful Burmese contestant Han Lay pleaded for peace. “I am deeply sorry for all the people who lost their lives in the street”, she said in a moving speech. “Please help Burma, we need your international help now. “
On the traditional Armed Forces Day on Saturday, General Min Aung Hlaing again defended the coup, denouncing irregularities in the November legislative elections, won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party. Acts of “Terrorism which can harm the peace and security of the state is unacceptable”, he said in a speech. Violence erupted across the country, with the military using live ammunition in more than 40 townships in nine regions, including Yangon, the country’s largest city, according to the AAPP. “Junta forces fired automatic rifles on residential areas, killing many civilians, including six children between the ages of 10 and 16”, said the NGO. “The fact that the illegitimate military regime targets children is a serious act of inhumanity. “ A journalist from Kyeikhto County, Southeastern Mon State, was shot in the leg.
First air assault
Meanwhile, an armed rebel group from the Karen ethnic minority, the Karen National Union, claimed to have been bombarded by junta hunters in the east on Saturday, hours after the rebel group seized the area. a military base. The authorities had not reacted to these accusations by Sunday morning. Hsa Moo, of the Karen ethnicity and human rights activist, said three people were killed and at least eight were injured. “People are worried about whether airstrikes will happen again today”, she told AFP.
This action marks the first such air assault since the army seized power, against the Fifth Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU) – one of the largest armed groups in the country, and which claims to represent the Karen people.
In London, the Burmese embassy confirmed on Sunday that the ambassador met Aung San Suu Kyi’s youngest son last week. Kim, 44, reiterated her request to speak to her mother by phone. “Kim asked about her mother’s situation and her health. He is obviously extremely worried ”, the embassy said on its Facebook page, adding that it had already sent three letters to Naypyidaw. The former head of the civilian government has been held incommunicado since 1er February in a residence in the Burmese capital.