GENEVA – The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) said it is to hold a special session on Myanmar on Friday, on the day the UN office there voiced strong concerns over Tuesday’s reported use of violence by security forces against demonstrators.
“I call on the security forces to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” Ola Almgren, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, said in a statement.
“The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable,” he noted.
The military takeover on February 1 followed escalating tensions between the military and the government after the November 2020 elections, won by the Aung San Suu Kyi-led National League for Democracy (NLD).