The military takeover of Myanmar continues to have deadly consequences for civilians who openly oppose the February 1 coup. Security forces killed 82 people in Bago on Friday, the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners told CBS News.
As of Friday, AAPP, which has been tracking incidents and fatalities, reports that at least 618 people, including at least 48 children, have been killed by the board in just over two months since the military took over. One of the deadliest days occurred just two weeks ago, the 76th Annual Armed Forces Day. As many soldiers celebrated the day, other security forces unleashed what the European Union delegation in Myanmar called “day of terror and dishonor, “killing at least 107 people, many of whom oppose the takeover.
In a briefing session released on Friday, the Burma-based group said security forces used assault rifles, heavy weapons and hand grenades during a clash with protesters in the early hours of Friday.
The United Nations in Myanmar backed the claim, saying it used “heavy artillery” against civilians, who were denied medical treatment.
Military-owned station Myawaddy TV said Friday in a report that 19 people have been sentenced to death for killing a partner of an army captain, according to Reuters.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Friday at a UN Security Council meeting: “Every day, Burma’s security forces continue to kill people, including children too young to know until and all that is a protest.And unfortunately, this open conversation cannot be seen by those most important points of view: the people of Burma, “he said. “The military has turned off its internet. By cutting its people off from the outside world, the army seeks to disguise its terrible actions and stifle protest and unleash even more horrors with impunity. And we cannot allow them to succeed.”
Later, she tweeted: “The statements alone are not enough to prevent the Burmese military from killing the people of Burma and threatening the security of the region. At this time, only concrete actions will help.”
Thomas-Greenfield noted some actions already taken against the armed forces, including sanctions against the military, military holding companies and “anyone who wants to take advantage of the violence,” he said.
On March 25, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control imposed sanctions on two military-owned companies, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited. Through these companies, according to the department, the Burmese army controls “important segments of the country’s economy.”
“These sanctions are specifically aimed at the economic resources of the Burmese military regime, which is responsible for the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Burma and the continued repression of the Burmese people,” the department said in a statement. “These sanctions are not aimed at the people of Burma.”
On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States also imposed sanctions on a Burmese state-owned gemstone entity, Myanma Gems Enterprise.
The Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday: “Gemstones are a key economic resource for the Burmese military regime that violently represses pro-democracy protests in the country and is responsible for ongoing lethal attacks on the people of Burma. , including killing children “.