YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — The European Union and the United States slapped sanctions Monday on top police and military commanders linked to last month’s coup in Myanmar, as pro-democracy demonstrators went back to the streets in defiance of a violent crackdown on protest. The junta is increasingly using deadly force to crush activists who have risen up against the military’s ousting of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. In a bid […]
Tag: Myanmar
US orders departure of non-essential diplomats from Myanmar
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US State Department has ordered the departure of non-essential diplomats from Myanmar, it said in a statement Tuesday, amid a crackdown on protesters that has killed hundreds since the country’s military coup began. Daily rallies across Myanmar by unarmed demonstrators demanding the restoration of the elected government and the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi have been met with tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds. […]
Wounded Myanmar refugees tell of air strike horror
by Thanaporn Promyamyai and Dene-Hern Chen Agence France Presse MAE SUAT, Thailand (AFP) — Civilians wounded in Myanmar air strikes on rebel positions spoke of their terrifying ordeal Tuesday after trekking through jungle to seek medical treatment across the border in Thailand. Military jets hit targets in eastern Karen state on Saturday and Sunday, as Myanmar reeled from the deadliest day so far in the junta’s crackdown on anti-coup protests. The strikes targeted territory held […]
Myanmar crackdown death toll passes 500
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — The death toll in the Myanmar military’s crackdown on protesters has passed 500, as armed rebel groups on Tuesday threatened the junta with retaliation if the bloodshed does not stop. World powers have ramped up their condemnation of the military’s campaign against the anti-coup movement that is demanding the restoration of the elected government and the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Washington suspended a trade pact with Myanmar […]
Myanmar bloodshed ‘absolutely outrageous’, Biden says after deadly weekend
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — US President Joe Biden led global condemnation of an “absolutely outrageous” crackdown by Myanmar’s junta that killed more than 100 people over the weekend, as funerals were held Monday for the victims. Soldiers and police have killed hundreds in a brutal campaign against mass anti-coup protests demanding a restoration of democracy and the release of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. At least 107 more people — including seven children […]
Global condemnation after bloodiest day since Myanmar coup
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Defence chiefs from a dozen countries on Sunday jointly condemned the bloodbath in Myanmar a day earlier, when at least 90 people — including several children — were killed after security forces opened fire on anti-coup protesters. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the generals ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, triggering mass protests demanding a return to democracy. The junta on Saturday staged a major show […]
Scores dead as Myanmar junta puts on show of force
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar’s security forces killed at least 91 people Saturday in the bloodiest day since the military seized power, a monitoring group said, as the junta staged a major show of might for its annual Armed Forces Day. The killings drew swift international outrage, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying the military had shown its willingness to “sacrifice the lives of the people to serve the few.” Myanmar has […]
Thailand faces meth trafficking surge after Myanmar coup
by Lisa MARTIN Agence France Presse NONG KAI, Thailand (AFP) — A village watchman trains his binoculars on a suspicious fishing boat — the first line of defence as Thailand braces for a fresh methamphetamine influx after a coup in neighbouring Myanmar. The kingdom’s narcotics bureau has already seized more than 80 million “yaba” pills just in the past six months, a record haul partly blamed on a supply glut caused by the coronavirus […]
World not tough enough on Myanmar crisis: UN expert
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The world’s response to the Myanmar crisis has been too sluggish and far from tough enough to prevent further deterioration, the UN expert on rights in the country said Thursday. Tom Andrews, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, called for an emergency summit to sharpen the response and said it should include the southeast Asian country’s neighbours and global powers. Myanmar’s military has unleashed a deadly […]
Firebomb attack at Suu Kyi’s party headquarters in Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — A fire from a hurled Molotov cocktail broke out early Friday at the party headquarters of deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar’s largest city, a party official said. The country has been in uproar since the military ousted the Nobel laureate in a lightning putsch on February 1, triggering an uprising demanding a return to democracy. Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has been in […]
UN body urges action over Myanmar military crackdown
by Nina LARSON Agence France Presse GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The UN Human Rights Council voiced alarm Wednesday at the “disproportionate use of force” in Myanmar since last month’s coup and pushed for a UN rights office in the country. The Council’s 47 members adopted a resolution reiterating the call for Myanmar’s military to restore civilian rule following its February 1 coup and immediately release deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi. More than 260 […]
Myanmar junta frees 600 detainees including AP photographer
YANGON, Myanmar (AFP) — Myanmar freed more than 600 coup detainees on Wednesday, including an Associated Press photographer arrested while covering rallies, following fresh outrage over brutal crackdowns on protesters. The regime has unleashed a deadly wave of violence as it struggles to quell nationwide protests against the February 1 ouster and arrest of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The 75-year-old was due to have a court hearing on Wednesday in Myanmar’s capital […]





