The military takeover in Myanmar continues to have deadly consequences for civilians who openly oppose the February 1 coup. In Bago, 82 people were killed on Friday, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners told CBS News.
As of Friday, AAPP, which has been monitoring incidents and deaths, reports that at least 618 people, including at least 48 children, was killed by the junta in the little over two months since the army took over. One of the deadliest days took place just two weeks ago on the 76th annual Army Day. While many military members celebrated the day, other security forces unleashed the European Union delegation in Myanmar ‘n’day of terror and dishonor, which kills at least 107 people, many of whom oppose the takeover.
In an information session published on Friday, the Burma group said security forces used assault rifles, heavy weapons and hand grenades during a confrontation with protesters early Friday morning.
The United Nations in Myanmar supported the claim, saying that ‘heavy artillery’ was used against civilians, who were then denied medical treatment.
The military station Myawaddy TV said in a report on Friday that 19 people had been sentenced to death for the murder of an employee of an army captain, according to Reuters.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, US Ambassador to the United Nations, said at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday: “Every day, Burma’s security forces continue to kill people – including children who are too young to even know what a protest is. “And unfortunately it’s an open conversation can not be seen by those whose views are most important – the people of Burma themselves,” she said. “The army has obscured their internet. By shutting its people out of the outside world, the military is trying to hide its horrific actions and stifle protests, unleashing even more atrocities with impunity. And we can not allow them to succeed. “
Later that day, she tweeted: “Statements alone are not enough to stop the Burmese army from killing the people of Burma and threatening the security of the region. At this stage, only concrete actions will help.”
Thomas-Greenfield noted a number of actions already taken against the armed forces, including sanctions against the military, military control companies and ‘anyone who wants to use force’, she said.
On March 25, the U.S. Department of State’s Treasury Asset Management Office issued sanctions against two military holding companies, Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited and Myanmar Economic Corporation Limited. The department said the Burmese army had “significant parts of the country’s economy” through these companies.
“These sanctions are specifically aimed at the economic resources of Burma’s military regime, which is responsible for overthrowing Burma’s democratically elected government and the continued oppression of the Burmese people,” the department said in a statement. “These sanctions are not aimed at the people of Burma.”
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken said on Thursday that the US had also issued sanctions against a gemstone entity, Burmese state-owned enterprise, Myanma Gems Enterprise.
The Treasury Department said in a statement on Thursday: “Precious stones are an important economic resource for the Burmese military regime that violently suppresses the protests of democracy in the country and is responsible for the ongoing deadly attacks on the people of Burma, including the murder of children. “