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UN cites reports of 'scores killed' by Myanmar military
Smoke rises over Tamwe township in Yangon on March 27, 2021, as security forces continue their crackdown on protests against the military coup. AFP/ PHOTOS
What you need to know:
- The ruling junta in Myanmar staged Saturday a major show of might for the annual Armed Forces Day that included a huge military parade attended by delegations from China and Russia.
The United Nations said Saturday it had received reports of "scores killed" including children in Myanmar in "shocking violence" by the military against protesters.
The army has cracked down on an uprising demanding a return to democracy since generals ousted and detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February.
"We are receiving reports of scores killed, incl. children, 100s injured across 40 locations, & mass arrests," the UN Human Rights High Commissioner's office said on Twitter.
"This violence is compounding the illegitimacy of the coup & the culpability of its leaders," it added.
This photo taken and received from an anonymous source via Facebook on March 27, 2021 shows makeshift barricades set up by protesters demonstrating against the military coup in Yangon's Hlaing township.
The UN office's spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told AFP: "We haven’t yet been able to independently corroborate but we have received multiple credible reports from many locations across the country (at least 40 separate locations so far) of police and military units responding to peaceful demonstrations with lethal force.
"So far the death tolls reported range from 83-91 killed and hundreds injured. We have four reports of children being killed, including at least one infant."
The ruling junta in Myanmar staged Saturday a major show of might for the annual Armed Forces Day that included a huge military parade attended by delegations from China and Russia.
This screengrab provided via AFPTV and taken from a broadcast by Myawaddy TV in Myanmar on March 27, 2021 shows Myanmar armed forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing attending an annual parade put on by the military to mark Armed Forces Day in the capital Naypyidaw.
Violence then erupted all over the central Mandalay region as security forces opened fire on pro-democracy protesters.
UN officials and Western governments denounced the violence, with the US embassy in Myanmar blasting the junta led by General Min Aung Hlaing for "murdering unarmed civilians".
A statement issued by Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said: "Today's killing of unarmed civilians, including children, marks a new low."
Armed Forces Day commemorates resistance to Japanese occupation during World War II and traditionally involves a review of thousands of soldiers, along with tanks, missiles and helicopters.
This screengrab provided via AFPTV and taken from a broadcast by Myawaddy TV in Myanmar on March 27, 2021 shows an annual parade put on by the military to mark Armed Forces Day in the capital Naypyidaw.
During a speech at the parade, General Min Aung Hlaing issued another threat to the anti-coup movement that has gripped the country since he took charge, warning acts of "terrorism which can be harmful to state tranquillity and security" were unacceptable.
