Yangon:
Defence chiefs from a dozen nations on Sunday jointly condemned the bloodbath in Myanmar a day earlier, when at least 90 men and women — which includes a number of young children — had been killed immediately after safety forces opened fire on protesters.
The newly imposed junta staged a main show of could possibly for its annual Armed Forces Day Saturday as the deaths since the February 1 coup climbed to at least 423, according to a neighborhood monitoring group.
Myanmar has been in turmoil given that the generals ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering mass protests demanding a return to democracy.
The defence ministers of 12 nations which includes the United States, Britain, Japan and Australia on Sunday condemned the Myanmar military’s use of lethal force against civilians.
“A professional military follows international standards for conduct and is responsible for protecting — not harming — the people it serves,” the uncommon joint statement stated.
“We urge the Myanmar Armed Forces to cease violence and work to restore respect and credibility with the people of Myanmar that it has lost through its actions.”
Mourners had been anticipated to turn out for funeral processions across the nation Sunday, immediately after the bloodiest day given that the putsch.
In the capital Naypyidaw Saturday there was a grand parade of troops and military automobiles, and junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing warned in a speech that acts of “terrorism” had been unacceptable.
Violence erupted across the nation with the military applying live rounds in more than 40 townships across nine regions which includes the biggest city Yangon, neighborhood monitoring group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) stated.
By sunset it was the deadliest day given that the junta seized energy, AAPP saying at least 90 men and women had been killed.
“Junta forces shot machine-guns into residential areas, resulting in many civilians, including six children between ten and sixteen-years old, killed,” AAPP stated.
“The fact the illegitimate military regime is targeting children is a grave act of inhumanity.”
A reporter in Kyeikhto township, Mon state, was shot with a live bullet and suffered a leg wound, AAPP stated.
– ‘Harmful to state tranquility’ –
Min Aung Hlaing as soon as once more defended the coup and pledged to yield energy immediately after new elections through his parade speech Saturday.
But he also issued a threat to the anti-coup movement, warning that acts of “terrorism which can be harmful to state tranquility and security” had been unacceptable.
“The democracy we desire would be an undisciplined one if they pay no respect to and violate the law”, he stated.
Armed Forces Day commemorates the begin of neighborhood resistance to the Japanese occupation through World War II, and normally capabilities a military parade attended by foreign military officers and diplomats.
The junta announced that eight international delegations attended Saturday’s occasion, which includes these of China and Russia — with a state media broadcast displaying Russian deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin in the audience.
Meanwhile, rebels in eastern Myanmar stated they had been targeted in air strikes late Saturday, hours immediately after the rebel group had seized a military base.
The move marked the initial such air assault given that the military seized energy, against the Fifth Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU) — one of the country’s biggest armed groups, which says it represents the ethnic Karen men and women.
The junta did not quickly comment, and there was no official confirmation of any casualties.
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