ASEAN IN FOCUS

At least 20 dead in Myanmar crackdown: monitoring group

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — At least 20 people were killed in Myanmar on Monday after another day of unrest and protests against the junta that seized power six weeks ago, a local monitoring group said. The country has been in uproar since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to demand a return to democracy. Security forces have used tear gas, rubber bullets […]

Suu Kyi to face court after bloody day in Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi is to appear in court on Monday, after one of the country’s bloodiest days since the February 1 coup. At least 38 protesters were killed on Sunday as security forces cracked down on anti-coup protesters, taking the total death toll to more than 120, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) monitoring group. Protesters demanding the release of Suu Kyi and […]

Myanmar declares martial law in Yangon townships after deadly day

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s junta late Sunday imposed martial law in two densely populated Yangon townships after at least 18 protesters were killed in one of the deadliest days since the February 1 coup. Sunday’s violence brings the number of people killed in mass protests since the military wrenched civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power to around 100, though activists and rights groups believe it could be higher. The junta has […]

UN fears ‘crimes against humanity’ in Myanmar; says at least 70 killed since Feb. 1 coup

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s military is likely committing “crimes against humanity” in its attempt to stay in power, a UN expert said Thursday, as the junta claimed that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi accepted illegal payments of cash and gold. At least 70 people have reportedly been “murdered” since the February 1 coup, said Thomas Andrews, the UN’s top expert on rights in Myanmar. The country is “controlled by a murderous, […]

Thailand delays AstraZeneca vaccine roll-out over blood clot fears

  BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thailand abruptly delayed its roll-out of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on Friday, stopping Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha from getting the first jab as several European nations suspended their programmes over blood clot fears. The kingdom was scheduled to start administering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, with Prayut expected to be filmed receiving the first injection. But by 8:30 am (0130 GMT) the gruff former general was nowhere to be seen, the […]

Indonesia bus plunge kills two dozen pilgrims

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — A bus carrying dozens of pilgrims plunged down a steep ravine on Indonesia’s Java island, killing at least 27 people including junior high school students, authorities said Thursday. Rescuers worked through the night using cranes to pluck injured survivors from the wreckage after the fatal crash late Wednesday in West Java’s Sumedang district. The bus carrying 66 passengers was travelling on a winding, poorly lit road when it plunged down the […]

Myanmar protesters ‘barricaded’ in by security forces: UN

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Hundreds of peaceful anti-coup protesters were “barricaded” by Myanmar security forces in apartment buildings in Yangon on Monday, the UN secretary-general said, calling for their release “without violence or arrests”. The Southeast Asian country has been in turmoil since a February 1 coup ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and triggered mass protests against the new military junta. The police and military have responded with an increasingly brutal crackdown on […]

Myanmar protesters gather after general strike call

YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Anti-coup protesters gathered across Myanmar on Monday, answering a trade union call for a general strike following a weekend of night raids and arrests. The country has been in turmoil since a February 1 coup ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power and triggered mass protests against the new military junta. The police and military have responded with an increasingly brutal crackdown on demonstrators, with more than 50 people […]

UN says 38 dead in Myanmar’s ‘bloodiest’ day since coup

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — At least 38 people died Wednesday in the “bloodiest” day of Myanmar’s crisis, the United Nations said, as the military junta defied growing international condemnation of its coup with a violent crackdown that the US said left it “appalled and revulsed.” Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 1 when the military ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ending the nation’s decade-long experiment with democracy and sparking […]

Six dead as Myanmar security forces fire at protesters

  YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — At least six people were killed as Myanmar security forces fired on pro-democracy protesters Wednesday, after the junta hit half a dozen detained journalists, including an Associated Press photographer, with criminal charges. The country has been in chaos since February 1 when the military launched a coup and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, ending Myanmar’s decade-long experiment with democracy and sparking daily mass protests. International pressure is mounting […]

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hit with two new criminal charges as she appears via video in court

  NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) — Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with two new criminal charges when she appeared in court via video link on Monday, a month after a military coup triggered relentless and massive protests. Suu Kyi has not been seen since being detained on February 1, and her appearance came as demonstrators took to the streets again across the country in defiance of an escalation of deadly force […]

Thai police fire rubber bullets at protesters outside PM’s residence

BANGKOK, Thailand (AFP) — Thai police shot rubber bullets and used water cannon and tear gas against pro-democracy protesters in Bangkok Sunday at a rally outside a military barracks housing the prime minister’s residence. A youth-led protest movement calling for the resignation of Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s government had lost steam in recent months following a second wave of coronavirus infections in Thailand. But the recent detention of four prominent protest leaders on royal defamation charges has […]