Confrontations between the military and demonstrators in Myanmar continued for a 10th straight day on Monday as the junta that took power on Feb. 1 cut the internet, expanded its military presence across the country and extended the detention of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
The latest events came less than a day after Canada and other Western nations called on the junta to “refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians.”
The call was contained in a statement released late Sunday by the embassies of Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom and 11 other nations, condemning the shutting down of the internet, the arrests of political leaders and the harassment of journalists.
“We support the people of Myanmar in their quest for democracy, freedom, peace and prosperity. The world is watching,” the statement said.
A new statement from the Ambassadors of Canada and other nations in Myanmar tonight as tensions mount, two weeks after the military coup: “..refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians…The world is watching.” #WhatIsHappeningInMyanmar @CBCNews @CBCAlerts pic.twitter.com/o0EQDmOkI8
— Stephanie Jenzer (@StephJenzer) February 14, 2021
Their call was echoed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who said authorities must “ensure the right of peaceful assembly is fully respected and demonstrators are not subjected to reprisals.”
Suu Kyi’s detention was supposed to be lifted on Monday, but the country’s military rulers extended it.
She is expected to appear in court by videoconference on Wednesday.
Her release is a key demand of demonstrators and her extended detention will likely further inflame tensions.
The junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, said it stepped in earlier this month because the government had not properly investigated allegations of fraud in an election last November that Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won in a landslide.
The state election commission said there was no evidence to support the claim and Canada quickly condemned the coup.
A Buddhist monk holding a sign stands next to an armoured vehicle during a protest against the military coup, in Yangon on Sunday. (Reuters/stringer)
The action was taken after Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Bob Rae, released a report in April 2018, outlining the underlying causes of the what became known around the world as the Rohingya Crisis that saw at least 700,000 Rohingya Muslims forced to flee western Myanmar’s Rakhine state to neighbouring Bangladesh following a military crackdown.
Canada committed $300 million over three years to help respond to the crisis.
According to the United Nations, more than 900,000 Rohingya Muslims currently live in the refugee camps.
With files from CBC News, The Canadian Press, The Associated Press, Reuters
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