On Friday, troops fired rifle grenades at protesters against the coup in the city of Bago, near Yangon, according to witnesses and news reports. At least 10 people were killed and their bodies piled up in a pagoda, they said.
Myanmar Now news and Mawkun, an online news magazine, said at least 20 people have died and many have been injured. It was not possible to get a precise toll because troops had cordoned off the area near the pagoda, they said.
More than 600 people have been killed by security forces cracking down on anti-coup protests, according to an activist group. The country has stalled due to protests and widespread strikes against military rule.
“The reason for reducing protests is due to the cooperation of people who want peace, which we appreciate,” said Zaw Min Tun. “We are asking people to work with security forces and help them.”
He said the military had recorded 248 deaths and denied that automatic weapons had been used. Sixteen police officers had also been killed, he said.
The activist group of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners has said 614 people, including 48 children, have been murdered by security forces since the coup, as of Thursday night. More than 2,800 were in custody, it said.
“We are humbled by their courage and dignity,” a group of 18 ambassadors to Myanmar said of the protesters in a joint statement.
“We stand together to support the hopes and aspirations of all those who believe in a free, just, peaceful and democratic Myanmar. Violence must end, all political prisoners must be released and democracy must be restored.”
The declaration has been signed by the ambassadors of the United States, Great Britain, the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland and several other European countries.
“We respect the suggestions of neighboring countries and big countries and powerful people in politics,” said Zaw Min Tun. He also accused members of the impeached National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi of arson and said the protest campaign was funded with foreign money, but gave no details.
Suu Kyi and many of her party colleagues have been in custody since the coup.
Zaw Min Tun said reports that some members of the international community did not recognize that the military government was “fake news.”
“We cooperate with foreign countries and cooperate with neighboring countries,” said the spokesperson.
Depressed lawmakers in Myanmar urged the United Nations Security Council on Friday to take action against the military.
“Our people are willing to pay all costs to regain their rights and freedoms,” said Zin Mar Aung, who has been appointed acting foreign minister before a group of impeached lawmakers. She urged Council members to exert both direct and indirect pressure on the junta.
“Myanmar is on the verge of state failure, of state collapse,” Richard Horsey, a senior adviser for Myanmar at the International Crisis Group, told the first public discussion on Myanmar at the UN informal meeting. councilors.
UN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, had wanted to visit the country but said she was rejected by the generals.
She said on Friday that she had arrived in Bangkok, the capital of neighboring Thailand.
“I am sorry that Tatmadaw replied to me yesterday that they are not ready to receive me,” Schraner Burgener said on Twitter, referring to Myanmar’s military. “I am ready for a dialogue. Violence never leads to peaceful sustainable solutions.”