The UN Security Council late Thursday strongly condemned the use of violence against peaceful protesters in Myanmar and the deaths of hundreds of civilians, but dropped the threat of possible future action against the military following the February 1 coup. The British-drafted press statement approved by all 15 council members after intense negotiations that began Wednesday expressed deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation in Myanmar and reiterated the council s call on the military to exercise utmost restraint. The original draft was much stronger and would have expressed the Security Council s readiness to consider further steps, which could include sanctions. It would also have deplored the use of violence against peaceful protesters and condemned in the strongest terms the killing of hundreds of civilians by the security forces.
Read more about Myanmar military cuts wireless internet service amid coup protests on Business Standard. Myanmar s wireless broadband internet services were shut down by order of the military, a local provider said, as protesters continued to defy the threat of violence to oppose the junta s takeover
After over two months since the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, the country s detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was slapped with another charge on Thursday under the official secrets law. Since her detainment, Suu Kyi is facing a total of five charges, including the latest one, Kyodo News reported. The charge is related to the indictment of Australian economist Sean Turnell, Suu Kyi s former adviser, who has been detained for violating the country s colonial-era official secrets act, informed her lawyer Min Min Soe. The lawyer further informed that Suu Kyi was additionally charged under the official secrets act, together with four others, at a Yangon court a week ago and the next hearing will be on April 8.
India has condemned the violence in Myanmar and condoled the loss of life, as it urged maximum restraint and called for the release of detained leaders. Myanmar s military toppled the country s government on February 1 and seized power for one year, detaining top political figures, including de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint. The coup sparked protests and other acts of civil disobedience, leading to the deaths of hundreds in military crackdown. The UN Security Council held closed consultations on the situation in Myanmar on Wednesday. India s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti tweeted that in his remarks in the closed meeting, he made these points: Condemn violence, Condole loss of lives, Urge maximum restraint, Our steadfast commitment to democratic transition, Release of detained leaders and welcome @ASEAN efforts.
The UN special envoy for Myanmar has warned that the country faces the possibility of civil war at an unprecedented scale and urged the UN Security Council to consider potentially significant action to reverse the February 1 military coup and restore democracy. Christine Schraner Burgener didn t specify what action she considered significant, but she painted a dire picture of the military crackdown in her virtual briefing to the council obtained by The Associated Press in which she also warned that the country is on the verge of spiralling into a failed state . This could happen under our watch, she said on Wednesday, and failure to prevent further escalation of atrocities will cost the world so much more in the longer term than investing now in prevention, especially by Myanmar s neighbours and the wider region .