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In a declaration adopted unanimously, including by China and Russia, the UN Security Council on Wednesday called on the Burmese junta to “show the utmost restraint” in the face of protesters. For its part, Washington has sanctioned the adult children of the leader of the junta.
The UN Security Council “firmly” condemned, on Wednesday March 10, the violence against the protest movement in Burma, where several hundred police and soldiers launched a raid in Rangoon against striking railway workers opposed to the junta .
The United States also intervened, instituting sanctions against two adult children of the leader of the seized power junta, Min Aung Hlaing. Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon have interests in companies that have directly benefited “from their father’s position and his nefarious influence,” the US Treasury Department said.
In its declaration adopted unanimously by the 15 members, and therefore also by China and Russia, traditional allies of the Burmese generals, the United Nations executive body attacked the army in an unprecedented manner. calls for “the utmost restraint”.
Denouncing the violent actions of the security forces “against peaceful demonstrators, including women, young people and children”, the Council calls on the parties to “seek a peaceful solution” to the crisis caused by the coup d’état of 1 February . He also calls for “the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained”, without however mentioning the possibility of international sanctions.
China believes that “now is the time to de-escalate” in Burma and that “it is time for dialogue,” Chinese Ambassador to the UN Zhang Jun said on Wednesday. “The time has come for diplomacy”, he also underlined in a statement, affirming that “China had participated in the negotiations” organized for six days by the United Kingdom within the Security Council for this statement “in a constructive manner”. “It is important that the members of the Council speak with one voice. We hope that the Council’s message will be such as to improve the situation in Burma,” insisted the Chinese diplomat.
The repression continues
Taking advantage of the procrastination hitherto of the international community, which had struggled in recent days for a common position, the junta for its part continued the repression. Police and soldiers were thus deployed in large numbers on Wednesday around the compound where railway personnel reside at Ma Hlwa Gone station, in eastern Yangon, the economic capital.
“They block the doors (of the apartments) and destroy them to enter,” said a female member of the family of a railway worker, on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. “I managed to escape, but I’m worried about the workers“ and their relatives who are still trapped. ”According to her, some 800 railway workers at this station are involved in the civil disobedience movement.
Doctors, teachers, employees of electricity companies, railway workers, many civil servants stopped working after the putsch that overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Major unions have called for “a complete shutdown of the economy” in an attempt to cripple Burma and increase pressure on the military.
“A hundred arrests”
The junta has ordered officials to return to work, failing which they would be sacked and face reprisals, while protests are daily throughout the country.
On Wednesday, a strong police and military presence was also visible across Rangoon. Makeshift barricades erected by protesters were set on fire and, in the Okkalapa district, “a hundred” arrests were made, according to a rescuer. “Some demonstrators were beaten, there are injured”.
At least 60 civilians have been killed and nearly 2,000 people arrested since February 1, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners.
Refugees in India
Members of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (LND), who do not recognize the legitimacy of the coup and have created a committee to represent the civilian government are guilty of “high treason” , a crime punishable by death or 22 years in prison, the junta recently warned.
Two LND officials have died in detention in recent days, very shortly after their arrest. Many have been arrested, including three last night. Former President of the Republic Win Myint and former head of government Aung San Suu Kyi have been held in solitary confinement.
The independent media are also targeted. Several have been targeted by police operations and around 20 journalists are in detention.
In this context, at least 136 Burmese have taken refuge in India since the coup and dozens of others are waiting on the border with this country to be able to do so, the Indian authorities have announced.
With AFP
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