Defense chiefs from 12 international locations condemn protest deaths in Myanmar

Defense chiefs from 12 totally different international locations on Sunday condemned violence in Myanmar a day earlier, which noticed army forces open hearth on anti-coup protesters, killing no less than 100 individuals.
The US, Britain, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan issued the assertion, a day after Myanmar’s deadliest day of protests for the reason that army coup in February.
“We condemn the use of lethal force against unarmed people by the Myanmar Armed Forces and associated security services,” the assertion learn.
The army chiefs known as on Myanmar’s armed forces to stop violence and work to “restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar, that it has lost through its actions.”
“A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting — not harming — the people it serves.”
How produce other leaders reacted?
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stated he was “deeply shocked” by what befell.
He tweeted: “It is the task of security forces to protect the population. Instead, the military killed peaceful protesters and even children. My thoughts and sympathy are with the families of the victims.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrote on Twitter: “The continuing military crackdown is unacceptable and demands a firm, unified & resolute international response.”
In the United States, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in a tweet that his nation was “horrified by the bloodshed perpetrated by Burmese security forces, showing that the junta will sacrifice the lives of the people to serve the few.”
The EU delegation to Myanmar stated Saturday would “forever stay engraved as a day of terror and dishonor.”
A bloody Armed Forces Day celebration
Myanmar’s army celebrated Armed Forces Day on Saturday with parades and speeches, regardless of the continuous protests towards its seizure of energy final month.
Estimated demise tolls of Saturday’s bloody occasions, which additionally noticed a number of youngsters killed, are troublesome to independently confirm.
A tally by the impartial Myanmar Now information portal reported 114 individuals killed throughout 44 cities and cities, whereas a rely by The Irrawaddy put the toll at 59 lifeless, amongst them three youngsters aged 7, 10 and 13 years.
The whole demise toll for the reason that coup is now over 420, in keeping with native monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
Funeral companies have been additionally held on Sunday for among the victims of Saturday’s occasions.
“Junta forces shot machine guns into residential areas, resulting in many civilians, including six children between ten and sixteen years old, killed,” AAPP stated. “The fact the illegitimate military regime is targeting children is a grave act of inhumanity.”
First air strikes in a long time
Rebels in jap Myanmar’s Karen state stated they’d been focused in airstrikes late Saturday, hours after the ethnic armed group seized a army base. Activists stated that no less than three individuals have been killed, in what was the primary aerial assault in 20 years within the state.
The assault focused the Fifth Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU), one of many nation’s largest armed teams, which says it represents the ethnic Karen individuals.
Meanwhile, protesters returned to the streets on Sunday regardless of Saturday’s occasions. Demonstrations have been held in Yangon and Mandalay, the nation’s two greatest cities, and in different areas.
“This movement against the military coup is not going to stop,” stated DW correspondent Dave Grunebaum. “They are just furious at the nighttime raids and the way this military is trying to terrorize the civilian population.”
In current days, the junta has portrayed the demonstrators as those perpetrating violence for his or her sporadic use of Molotov cocktails. On Saturday, some protesters in Yangon have been seen carrying bows and arrows.
The army has stated its use of drive has been justified to cease what it has known as rioting.