Myanmar coup: Why people protest and the army kills peaceful protesters

by

At least 138 people, including children, have been killed in the coup, according to the UN Office for Human Rights. And more than 2,100 – including journalists, protesters, activists, government officials, trade unionists, writers, students and civilians – were detained, often in night raids, according to the Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners (AAPP). Although activists considered these figures to be higher.

Here’s what you need to know about the situation.

Why did the Myanmar army take power?

The military justified its takeover by choosing for large-scale electoral fraud during the November 2020 general election, which gave Suu Kyi another overwhelming victory.

The Union’s Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) behaved disappointingly in the poll, shattering hopes among some of its military supporters that it could democratically take power – or at least get to elect the next president. The military then claimed – without providing evidence – that there were more than 10.5 million cases of “potential fraud, such as non-existent voters” and called on the electoral commission to make public the final voting data.

The Commission rejected those allegations of electoral fraud.

It was only the second democratic vote since the previous junta began a series of reforms in 2011, after half a century of brutal military rule that plunged Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, into poverty and isolationism.

Analysts say the takeover was less about election irregularities and more about the military wanting to stay in control of the country, which would have another five years of reform under a second NLD and Suu Kyi mandate.

Why is Myanmar protesting?

The incense of the previous decade of reforms, which saw political and economic liberalization and a transition to a hybrid democracy, would be canceled, millions of people of all ages and social backgrounds took to the streets every day across the country.
The protesters are demanding that the army restore the power of civilian control and are fully accountable and demand the release of Suu Kyi and other civilian leaders. Many ethnic minority groups in Myanmar, which have long fought for greater autonomy for their lands, are also calling for the abolition of the 2008 military constitution and the establishment of a federal democracy.
The bloody streets of Myanmar, while the UN fears

Demonstrations, especially those in front-line positions behind the barricades, are dominated by young people who have grown up with a level of democracy and political and economic freedoms that their parents or grandparents did not have. give up.

Meanwhile, a civil disobedience movement saw thousands of white-and-blue-collar workers, from doctors, bankers and lawyers to teachers, engineers and factory workers, leaving their jobs as a form of resistance to the coup.

The strikes disrupted medical, banking, railway and administrative services, among others. Local Frontier Myanmar media reported striking truck drivers, customs and banking agents, and port workers stopped international trade through Yangon ports.

How does the army react?

In recent weeks, the military has stepped up its response to the protests. Images and images from social networks show crumpled bodies lying in pools of blood on the streets and young protesters dressed in thin plastic helmets crouched to cover police bullets behind makeshift shields.

Amnesty International says the military is using increasingly deadly tactics and weapons that are normally seen on the battlefield against peaceful protesters and those around them. Reinforced troops – documented as having committed human rights abuses in conflict zones – were deployed on the streets, Amnesty said. UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews said the army’s “brutal response” to peaceful protests “probably meets the legal threshold for crimes against humanity.”

Under cover of a nighttime internet outage, security forces go door to door in night raids, pulling people out of their homes. Many of those arbitrarily detained are kept away from contact with family and friends, their condition or the place where they are known.

Military trucks are seen near a burning barricade erected by protesters then set on fire by soldiers during a crackdown on demonstrations against the March 10 military coup in Yangon.

At least four of the deaths in recent days have been arrested and detained by the junta, including two dismissed NLD party officials. All four died in custody, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Family groups and activists claimed that the two NLD officials were tortured.

The military also tried to crack down on independent media, suspending the licenses of five outlets and arresting journalists. The Associated Press demanded the release of its journalist Thein Zaw, who was detained and charged “for simple service” while covering violent demonstrations against the coup for the US news agency.

Despite the danger, thousands of young protesters continued to defy the army and take to the streets every day, and local reporters and journalists continue to risk their lives by live streaming and documenting repression.

The junta said it was using restraint against what it called “revolting protesters.” In a speech to Myanmar’s Global New Light State spokesman, Min Aung Hlaing said that the police force “controls the situation using minimal force and the least harmful means.”

“The MPF operates in accordance with the practices of democracy, and the measures it takes are even softer than those in other countries,” he said.

What happened to Aung San Suu Kyi?

Suu Kyi was once celebrated as an icon of international democracy. A former political prisoner, she spent 15 years under house arrest as part of a decades-long struggle against military rule.

Its release in 2010 and the victory of the elections five years later were praised by Western governments as landmarks in the country’s transition to democratic governance after 50 years of military rule.

Suu Kyi was hit with four charges that could lead to a sentence of years in prison and she remains under house arrest, being detained by the military in the hours before the coup. These allegations, which have been described as “outdated”, include one under the country’s import and export act, the second in connection with a national disaster law, the third under the colonial-era penal code that prohibits the publication of information that may “Cause fear or alarm,” and the fourth under a telecommunications law that provides equipment licenses, her lawyer said.
She was shot, her body exhumed and the grave filled with cement. But her fight is not over
The military also accused the leader of bribery and corruption. Military spokesman Brig. Gender. Zaw Min Tun told a news conference that Suu Kyi accepted illegal payments worth $ 600,000, as well as gold, while in government. Her lawyer called the allegations a “complete fabrication.”

Suu Kyi has not been seen by the public or her lawyers since she was detained. The ousted President Win Myint has also been detained since the coup and faces similar charges.

Government officials with NLD were either arrested or hidden from the coup. A group of former NLD MPs have formed a kind of parallel civil parliament – called the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Committee (CRPH) – and are pushing for international recognition as a rule of law.

The group’s incumbent, Mahn Win Khaing Than, has vowed to continue a “revolution” to overthrow the ruling junta.

What is the UN doing?

Protesters, activists and civilians have called for the international community to intervene and protect Burmese from military attacks.

Various governments around the world have condemned the coup, while the United States and Britain have imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military leaders. The European Union has also said it will introduce specific sanctions that could be extended to include military-related businesses.
Last week, all 15 members of the UN Security Council unanimously backed the loudest statement since the coup, saying it “strongly condemns violence against peaceful protesters” and called on the military to “exercise the utmost restraint.” ”.
UN diplomats told CNN that China, Russia and Vietnam opposed tougher languages ​​calling the events a “coup d’etat” and, in a single project, forced the removal of language that would have threatened further action. with sanctions.

China has not directly condemned the military takeover, but in comments following the Security Council agreement, UN Ambassador Zhang Jun said: “It is important that Council members speak with one voice. We hope that the Council’s message would be conducive to facilitating the situation in Myanmar. “

Balloon bearers carry the coffin of Ye Swe Oo, who was shot and killed on March 13 during a crackdown by security forces against protesters protesting the military coup in Mandalay on March 14.

Following the burning of factories owned by Yangon in China this week, China has taken a more aggressive tone. The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar said that “China urges Myanmar to take other effective measures to stop all acts of violence, to punish perpetrators in accordance with the law and to ensure the safety of life and property of Chinese companies and personnel in Myanmar.” Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.

Many in Myanmar are becoming frustrated by simple words of condemnation and demanding more meaningful action.

Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, told CNN the message of the UN Security Council “does not meet the expectations of the people.” Protesters can also be seen holding placards that read “R2P” referring to a global UN political commitment called Responsibility to Protect, which seeks to ensure that the international community never fails to stop mass atrocities such as genocide, crimes against war, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. .

A group of 137 non-governmental organizations from 31 countries has called on the UN Security Council to urgently impose a global arms embargo on Myanmar.

Andrews, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, called on member states to “refuse to recognize the military junta as a legitimate government.” He also called for an end to the flow of revenue and weapons to the reeds, saying that “multilateral sanctions should be imposed” on senior leaders, companies owned and controlled by the military and the state energy company, Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.

.Source