Myanmar’s military takeover continues to have deadly consequences for civilians who openly oppose the Feb. 1 coup. In Bago, security forces killed 82 people on Friday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners told CBS News.
As of Friday, AAPP, which has tracked incidents and fatalities, reports that at least 618 people, including at least 48 children, have been murdered by the junta in the little over two months since the military took over. One of the deadliest days occurred just two weeks ago, on the 76th annual Armed Forces Day. While many military members celebrated the day, other security forces unleashed what the European Union delegation in Myanmar “day of terror and dishonor, “killing at least 107 people, many of whom are against the takeover.
In a briefing published on Friday, the Burma-based group said security forces used assault rifles, heavy weapons and hand grenades during a showdown with protesters Friday morning.
The United Nations in Myanmar backed the claim, saying “heavy artillery” was being used against civilians who were subsequently denied medical treatment.
The Myawaddy TV military station said in a report Friday that 19 people have been sentenced to death for murdering an employee of an army captain, Reuters said.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said Friday at a meeting of the UN Security Council: “Every day Burma’s security forces keep killing people – including children far too young to even know what a protest. an open conversation cannot be seen by those whose opinion is most important – the people of Burma themselves, ”she said. “The military has darkened their internet. By isolating its people from the outside world, the military is trying to hide its terrible actions and quell protests, and unleash more horrors with impunity. And we cannot allow that. they succeed. “
Later in the day, she tweeted, “Statements alone are not enough to prevent the Burmese military from killing the people of Burma and threatening the security of the region. At the moment, only concrete actions can help.”
Thomas-Greenfield noted that some actions have already been taken against the armed forces, including sanctions against the military, military holdings and “anyone who wants to take advantage of the violence,” she said.
On March 25, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the United States Treasury Department issued sanctions against two military holdings, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited. Through these companies, the department said, the Burmese military controls “important parts of the country’s economy.”
“These sanctions specifically target the economic resources of Burma’s military regime, which is responsible for the overthrow of Burma’s democratically elected government and the continued repression of the Burmese people,” the ministry said in a statement. “These sanctions are not directed against the people of Burma.”
On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US has also issued sanctions against a gemstone entity in Burmese state, Myanma Gems Enterprise.
The Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday: “ Gemstones are an important economic resource for the Burmese military regime that is violently suppressing the pro-democracy protests in the country and responsible for the ongoing deadly attacks on the people of Burma, including the killing of children. “