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Agence France-Presse

Reuters

The United Nations rights chief warned on Tuesday of possible crimes against humanity in Myanmar and said it seemed to be heading towards a massive conflict like the one ravaging Syria.
In a statement, the UN rights office urged countries to take immediate and decisive action to push the military leaders behind a February 1 coup in Myanmar to stop their “campaign of repression and slaughter of its people”. 
“I fear the situation in Myanmar is heading towards a full-blown conflict,” said Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“States must not allow the deadly mistakes of the past in Syria and elsewhere to be repeated.”
Myanmar coup: Aung San Suu Kyi hit with sixth criminal charge
Myanmar is in chaos and its economy paralysed since the military seized power from civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.
A junta crackdown against dissent has resulted in the civilian death toll reaching at least 710 as of late Monday including 50 children, according to a local monitoring group.
Ethnic armed rebel groups have meanwhile stepped up attacks on the military and police in recent weeks, raising fears of Myanmar spiralling into broader civil conflict.
And the military has retaliated with air strikes that have reportedly displaced thousands of civilians.
“The military seems intent on intensifying its pitiless policy of violence against the people of Myanmar, using military-grade and indiscriminate weaponry,” Bachelet said.


“There are clear echoes of Syria in 2011,” she warned, referring to the start of a civil war that over the past decade has killed nearly 400,000 people and forced more than six million to flee the country. There too, we saw peaceful protests met with unnecessary and clearly disproportionate force,” she said.
“The state’s brutal, persistent repression of its own people led to some individuals taking up arms, followed by a downward and rapidly expanding spiral of violence all across the country.”
Russia and China thwarting international response to Myanmar crisis, says EU chief
Bachelet pointed out that her predecessor Navanethem Pillay had warned in 2011 “that the failure of the international community to respond with united resolve could be disastrous for Syria and beyond”.
“The past 10 years have shown just how horrific the consequences have been for millions of civilians,” she said.
Bachelet pointed to “credible reports” indicating that Myanmar’s Tatmadaw military forces opened fire with rocket-propelled grenades, fragmentation grenades and mortar fire in the southern city of Bago late last week.


At least 82 anti-coup protesters were reportedly killed in the brutal crackdown.
Security forces also reportedly prevented medical personnel from helping the wounded and charged relatives a “fine” of around $90 to claim the bodies of those who were killed, the UN rights office said.
At the same time, it said, at least 3,080 people are currently detained across the country, while 23 people have reportedly been sentenced to death following secret trials, including four protesters and 19 others accused of political and criminal offences.
‘I still get nightmares’: Myanmar students traumatised after beatings in jail
Bachelet urged the international community to take action.
“Statements of condemnation, and limited targeted sanctions, are clearly not enough,” the former Chilean president said.
“States with influence need to urgently apply concerted pressure on the military in Myanmar to halt the commission of grave human rights violations and possible crimes against humanity against the people.”


Meanwhile, opponents of military rule cancelled traditional new year festivities on Tuesday and instead showed their anger with the generals who seized power through low-key displays of defiance and small protests across the country.
Protesters were out again on the first day of the five-day new year holiday, known as Thingyan, which is usually celebrated with prayers, ritual cleaning of Buddha images in temples and high-spirited water-dousing on the streets.
“We do not celebrate Myanmar Thingyan this year since over 700 of our innocent brave souls have been killed,” said one Twitter user named Shwe Ei.
Myanmar junta refuses UN envoy visit as bloodshed continues
Women wearing fine clothes for the most important holiday of the year protested in several towns holding traditional pots containing seven flowers and sprigs that are displayed at this time, media pictures showed. Many people painted the protesters’ three-finger salute on their Thingyan pots.
Activists keen to maintain the momentum of their campaign against the military have called for protests throughout the holiday, which runs until Saturday.
This was the second year in a row the new year festivities were called off. Last year, it was because of Covid-19.
“We cannot enjoy this year. We will celebrate once we get democracy,” said another Twitter user, Su Su Soe.



China backs Myanmar’s push to ease diplomatic isolation, stamp out telecoms scams

US slaps sanctions on Cambodian senator suspected of controlling scam centres

America offers US$4 million bounty for arrest of Chinese money launderer

Why Myanmar’s token amnesties are ‘no cause for celebration’

Myanmar

UN fears Myanmar heading into ‘full-blown conflict’, as protesters cancel new year festivities

Protesters in Mandalay take part in a demonstration against the military coup during the Myanmar new year festival of Thingyan. Photo: AFP

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has warned of possible crimes against humanity in Myanmar. Photo: AFP

Protesters carrying A-taui pots filled with Thingyan festival flowers during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon. Photo: AFP

Myanmar coup: security forces must ‘stop murdering protesters’, UN urges after deadliest day

Protesters scatter after police fired tear gas during a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay on March 3. Photo: AFP

(FILES) In this file photo UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener arrives at Sittwe airport on October 15, 2018 after visiting Maung Daw Township at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border area in Rakhine State. - The United Nations on February 15, 2021 denounced Myanmar's military rulers for choking off the internet amid a crackdown on anti-coup protests. The UN envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener spoke with the deputy commander of the Myanmar army, Soe Win, and warned that "network blackouts undermine core democratic principles," UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said. (Photo by STR / AFP)

Angel a 19-year-old protester, also known as Kyal Sin, lies on the ground before she was shot in the head as Myanmar's forces opened fire to disperse an anti-coup demonstration in Mandalay, Myanmar, March 3, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer

Myanmar crisis: leave or stay? Taiwan, Hong Kong expats among the foreigners counting the cost of doing business

Demonstrators march during a protest in Mandalay. Business activity in Myanmar has plummeted since the coup. Photo: EPA-EFE

A demonstrator displays a placard in front of Germany’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Berlin. Photo: AFP

People queue to use the automated teller machines at a bank in Yangon. Photo: AFP

Workers iron and arrange clothing at a garment factory at the Hlaing Taryar industrial zone in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo: Reuters

Myanmar security forces kill over 80 anti-coup protesters in latest violence

Demonstrators are seen before a clash with security forces in Taze, Myanmar’s Sagaing region. Photo: Reuters

Protesters taking part in a candlelight demonstration against the military coup in Yangon’s Tamwe township. Photo: TNS

A protester skirts a pile of burning tires during a demonstration against the junta in Yangon. Photo: Zuma Press/TNS

Security officers walk down the street during a crackdown in Bago on April 9, 2021. Photo: Reuters

China in touch with ‘all parties’ in Myanmar, embassy says

A protester stacks bags on a street as a barricade in Myanmar. China has declined to condemn the coup, which has prompted large-scale demonstrations. Photo: ZUMA Wire

News

Asia

Southeast Asia


United Nations rights chief Michelle Bachelet urged countries to take action to prevent a conflict like the one in Syria
Meanwhile, activists have boycotted celebrations for the five-day new year holiday, known as Thingyannew, to show their opposition to the coup



The UN warning came as activists boycotted celebrations for the five-day new year holiday, known as Thingyannew, to show their opposition to the military coup.


United Nations

Aung San Suu Kyi

Syrian conflict