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, the AAPP, which has been tracking incidents and deaths, reports that at least 618 people, including at least 48 children, were killed by the junta in just over two months since the army took over. One of the deadliest days came just two weeks ago, on the 76th annual Armed Forces Day. As many military members 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 published on Friday, the Burmese group said security forces used assault rifles, heavy weapons and hand grenades during clashes with protesters early Friday morning.
The United Nations in Myanmar has backed the claim, saying “heavy artillery” was used against civilians, who were then denied medical treatment.
Myawaddy TV said in a report on Friday that 19 people had been sentenced to death for killing an associate of an army captain, according to Reuters.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday: “Every day, Burmese security forces continue to kill people – including children far too young to know what. it is a protest. And unfortunately, this open conversation cannot be seen by those whose views are most important – the people of Burma themselves, “she said.” The military has blackened the internet. By cutting off people from the outside world, the army is trying to hide its terrible actions and stifle protests and unleash even more horrors with impunity. And we can’t allow them to succeed. “
During the day, she wrote on Twitter: “Statements alone are not enough to stop the Burmese army from killing people in Burma and threatening the security of the region. At the moment, only concrete actions will help. “
Thomas-Greenfield noted a number of 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,” she said.
On March 25, the US Treasury Department’s Foreign Assets Control Bureau issued sanctions against two military holding companies, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited. Through these companies, the department said, the Burmese military controls “significant segments of the country’s economy.”
“These sanctions specifically target the economic resources of the Burmese military regime, which is responsible for the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Burma and the continued repression of the Burmese people,” the department said in a statement. “These sanctions are not directed at the people of Burma.”
On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States had also issued sanctions against a Burmese state-owned gemstone company, Myanma Gems Enterprise.
The Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday: “Gems are a key economic resource for the Burmese military regime that violently represses pro-democracy protests in the country and is responsible for the ongoing deadly attacks on the Burmese population, including the killing of children. “