Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) called for an immediate end to violence in Myanmar during an emergency summit on Saturday. ASEAN also demanded that Myanmar’s junta allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and engage in a dialogue mediated by an ASEAN special envoy (NPR)
EU Imposes Sanctions on Myanmar Military Leaders
The European Union sanctioned ten military leaders and two military conglomerates in response to the coup and their repression of protestors. The EU accused those sanctioned of undermining democracy and committing human rights violations (Al Jazeera)
Myanmar’s Military Leader to Attend ASEAN Summit
The head of Myanmar’s military junta, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, is expected to attend a special meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Indonesia on Saturday. Myanmar’s national unity government, recently created by ousted lawmakers and coup opponents, has called for a seat at the summit instead (Al Jazeera)
Myanmar Troops Kill Fifteen Protestors
Myanmar security forces killed at least fifteen anti-coup protestors and wounded dozens of others. Separately, no one claimed responsibility for a series of seven explosions set off at government buildings, hospitals, and shopping malls in Yangon (Reuters)
Myanmar Military Shuts Off Wireless Internet Amid Continued Protests
Myanmar’s military ordered wireless internet providers to cut off service as it continues to quash anti-coup protests. Late yesterday, the UN Security Council strongly condemned the use of violence against protesters, while China and Russia still oppose imposing sanctions (Associated Press)
UN Envoy Warns of ‘Bloodbath’ in Myanmar
The UN special envoy on Myanmar warned the UN Security Council that a “bloodbath is imminent” in the country, as anti-coup protests continue despite a brutal crackdown by security forces. Activists burned copies of the 2008 military-drafted constitution, which members of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party have pledged to scrap in favor of a federal democracy (Reuters)
U.S. Pulls Personnel Amid Growing Violence in Myanmar
The United States ordered nonemergency embassy staff and their families to leave Myanmar amid a continued crackdown by the junta that seized power in February (Reuters)
Thailand said dozens of people who had fled recent military air strikes in Myanmar’s rebel-held east were “voluntarily” returned today (Agence France-Presse)
Over Five Hundred Civilians Killed Since Myanmar’s Coup
More than five hundred civilians have died in Myanmar since the military seized power on February 1, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). Today, protesters began throwing garbage onto the streets in a civil disobedience campaign, and three rebel groups pledged to fight against the military if the killings continue (Guardian, Al Jazeera)
Separately, three hundred Rohingya refugees remain unaccounted for in Bangladesh after they fled from the devastating settlement fire last week. The UN refugee agency said families are still being reunited after as many as forty-five thousand people were forced out of their homes (Reuters)
Myanmar Sees Bloodiest Day Since Coup
Massive protests continued today in Myanmar, where security forces killed more than one hundred people on Saturday, the bloodiest day since the country’s February 1 military coup. Weekend clashes between the army and fighters from ethnic minority groups prompted thousands of people to flee to Thailand (Reuters)
U.S., UK Jointly Sanction Myanmar’s Military
The United States and UK sanctioned two conglomerates overseen by Myanmar’s military, which seized control of the country on February 1 (Reuters)
More than three hundred people have been killed in the junta’s crackdown on protesters, a monitor said (Al Jazeera)
Myanmar Authorities Release Protestors
Authorities released hundreds of people arrested for protesting against the military junta, state-run television announced. Additionally, a court hearing for detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was postponed until April 1, her lawyer said (Guardian)
Fire Destroys Rohingya Refugee Camp in Bangladesh
A fire tore through camps housing Rohingya refugees in the southeastern district of Cox’s Bazar, killing at least fifteen people and forcing tens of thousands to flee. The cause is unknown (Agence France-Presse)
Separately, the United States sanctioned two security officials and two army divisions in Myanmar, where the country’s military junta continues to brutally suppress dissent. The EU sanctioned eleven people in its most significant action since the February 1 coup (Reuters)
Security Forces in Myanmar Kill Nine
Security forces reportedly killed nine people today, continuing their crackdown on opponents of the military junta (Reuters)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for a meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss the crisis (Nikkei)
Myanmar’s Crisis Deepens After Bloodiest Day of Demonstrations
Security forces shot and killed dozens of pro-democracy demonstrators in Myanmar yesterday, the bloodiest day of clashes since the February 1 coup. Several protesters were also killed today (BBC)
Most of yesterday’s deaths occurred in the city of Yangon, where Chinese-owned factories were set on fire, triggering China’s most forceful comments yet on Myanmar’s crisis (Guardian)
China’s embassy in Myanmar urged the junta to stop the violence and protect Chinese companies and citizens. Myanmar’s military subsequently imposed martial law in several areas of Yangon (Bloomberg, Reuters)
Myanmar Junta Alleges Corruption by Ousted Officials
Myanmar’s military junta accused several deposed officials of corruption, claiming that the country’s former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, had accepted illegal payments and gold. It also said international observers were misinterpreting the crisis in Myanmar. Security forces reportedly killed eight more protesters today (Reuters)
Separately, eighty-eight Rohingya refugees, including children and pregnant women, were detained outside a UN human rights office in New Delhi, a police official said. Last week, more than one hundred and fifty Rohingya refugees were detained in India-administered Kashmir (Al Jazeera)
Myanmar’s Situation Grows Grimmer
An official from Myanmar’s National League for Democracy party died in custody—the second party official to die in two days—and the party appointed an official to perform the duties of the country’s deposed president, Win Myint, and its de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council failed to agree on a statement condemning the February 1 military coup (Reuters)
Myanmar Protesters Trapped in Standoff With Security Forces
Security forces trapped hundreds of protesters in the city of Yangon overnight, sparking concern from foreign embassies. Activists said the demonstrators were eventually able to escape. The military also banned five local media outlets from publishing content (Bloomberg, Reuters)
Two Protestors Killed in Myanmar as Businesses Close for Protests
Two protesters died of gunshot wounds in the town of Myitkyina while businesses shuttered in the city of Yangon, after trade unions urged workers to strike against the military junta (Reuters)
Yesterday, Australia suspended ties with Myanmar’s military (news.com.au)
Europeans Drop Resolution Condemning Iran’s Nuclear Actions
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom decided not to censure Iran for limiting its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran praised the decision, and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Iran agreed to talks with the agency beginning in April (Associated Press)
UN Security Council to Meet on Myanmar as Violence Continues
Security forces continued to crack down on protesters in Myanmar today, killing one person, ahead of a UN Security Council discussion about the country. The United States announced new trade restrictions on the military junta (Reuters)
Dozens Killed on Myanmar’s Deadliest Day Since Coup
The United Nations announced that at least thirty-eight people were killed across Myanmar yesterday, the bloodiest day since the military seized power on February 1 (Financial Times)
Security forces shot at protesters, and activists likened the scenes to a war zone (CNN)
The crackdown continued today. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said that more than 1,700 people have been arbitrarily detained, a number that includes dozens of journalists and the leaders of the deposed government (Reuters)
Death Toll of Myanmar’s Protests Continues to Rise
At least nine people were killed in Myanmar today when security forces fired at protesters, according to witnesses and media (Agence France-Presse, Reuters)
Meanwhile, the country’s military junta and an envoy appointed by the deposed government are at odds over who represents Myanmar at the United Nations (New York Times)
Myanmar’s Junta Meets With Regional Leaders Amid Crisis
Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met virtually with Myanmar’s military-appointed foreign minister today amid continued unrest following the country’s coup last month. The bloc urged Myanmar’s junta to stop harming protesters and free detained civilian leaders (South China Morning Post)
Myanmar Suffers Deadliest Day Since Coup
Security forces killed at least eighteen protesters in Myanmar yesterday, according to the United Nations, in the deadliest day since the military launched a coup one month ago. Authorities filed two new charges against deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi today, and Myanmar’s military is expected to meet with regional foreign ministers tomorrow (Reuters, South China Morning Post)
Myanmar’s Junta Continues Crackdown Despite International Pressure
The World Bank froze some payments to Myanmar, and the United Kingdom sanctioned six more members of its military junta (Reuters)
Today, the military’s election chairman declared the November election results invalid, and police fired shots during a protest (Al Jazeera, Reuters)