(Yangon-GNB): Myanmar security forces opened fire Wednesday on protesters demonstrating against last month’s military coup, leaving at least 38 people dead across the country, the U.N. special envoy on the Southeast Asian country said, marking a higher death toll than on any day since the military seized power.
“Today it was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the 1st of February. We had today — only today — 38 people died. We have now more than over 50 people died since the coup started, and many are wounded,” United Nations special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said in New York.
Burgener called for coordinated efforts by the international community to increase pressure on the military regime to end the ongoing crackdown on protesters, as the cumulative death toll since the Feb. 1 coup has exceeded 50.
The dead included four children, an aid agency said to the media. Hundreds of protesters were arrested, local media reported.
Journalists have also been targeted by the military. On Saturday, At least eight journalists, including Thein Zaw of The Associated Press, were detained, AP news reported.
“My heartfelt condolences on the loss of the people who peacefully stood up for democracy and freedom. My thoughts are with them and their families. As a mother and friend of Myanmar , I suffer with you”, U.N. special envoy, Christine Schraner Burgener twitted.
At least 30 people were injured in Wednesday’s shootings by security forces, local media reported. The latest death toll has surpassed the number dead in bloody protests on Sunday.
The military seized power and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi at the start of February, in a coup that reversed years of slow progress towards democracy in the south-east Asian nation, after five decades of military rule.
Security forces have increasingly resorted to force against protesters who have gathered daily in the weeks following the coup that ousted the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, local media reported.
According to a diplomatic source, the U.N. Security Council is expected to hold a closed-door session Friday to discuss the Myanmar situation.
Heightened tensions in a member country have spurred diplomatic efforts within the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN foreign ministers held a virtual meeting on Tuesday and called for a de-escalation of the Myanmar situation and dialogue to peacefully resolve the political crisis.
“We are concerned about the situation and demand the suppression of violence,” the chairman’s statement said.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
