Myanmar junta blames protesters as EU, U.S. impose sanctions
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[March 23, 2021]
(Reuters) - Myanmar's military
accused anti-junta protesters of arson and violence as Western countries
imposed more sanctions on individuals and groups linked to last month's
coup and the ensuing bloody crackdown on dissent.
Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said 164 protesters had been killed in the
violence and expressed sadness at the deaths.
"They are also our citizens," he told a news conference in the capital
Naypyitaw on Tuesday, adding that the military would use the least force
possible to quell violence.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) activist group
says at least 261 people have been killed in the brutal crackdown by
security forces that has left the Southeast Asian nation in turmoil.
Three people including a teenage boy were killed in unrest on Monday in
Myanmar's second city, Mandalay, witnesses and news reports said.
The junta has tried to justify the coup by saying a Nov. 8 election won
by Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) was fraudulent
- an accusation the electoral commission rejected. Military leaders have
promised a new election but have not set a date and have declared a
state of emergency.
Zaw Min Tun blamed protesters for violence and arson and said nine
members of the security forces had been killed.
"Can we call these peaceful protesters?" he said, while showing a video
of factories on fire. "Which country or organisation would regard this
violence as peaceful?"
He said strikes and hospitals not fully operating had caused deaths,
including from COVID-19, calling them "undutiful and unethical".
The spokesman also accused media of "fake news" and fanning unrest and
said reporters could be prosecuted if they were in contact with the CRPH,
as the remnants of Suu Kyi's government is known locally. The military
has declared the CRPH an illegal organisation and said membership is
punishable by death.
In the over three hour news conference, the spokesman also said the
military respected the media and although reporting protests was
allowed, leading them was a crime.
Zaw Min Tun gave granular details or how the NLD had created hundreds or
even thousands of extra ballots in numerous townships by inventing
voters, including in Suu Kyi's own constituency. Videos of people saying
they were paid by NLD representatives were shown at the news conference.
Also shown was video testimony of former Yangon chief minister Phyo Min
Thein saying he visited Suu Kyi multiple times and gave her money
"whenever needed".
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Demonstrators are seen behind barricades during a protest against
the military coup in Mandalay, Myanmar March 22, 2021.
REUTERS/Stringer
Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for her campaign to bring
democratic civilian rule to Myanmar, has been in detention since the
coup. Her lawyer says charges against her are trumped up.
'UNBEARABLE EXTENT'
The European Union and the United States imposed sanctions on Monday
against individuals involved in the coup and the repression of the
demonstrators.
The EU sanctions were the bloc's most significant response since the
overthrow of Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb. 1.
The 11 people it targeted included General Min Aung Hlaing, the
commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military and head of the junta
that has taken power.
The EU already has an arms embargo on Myanmar and has targeted some
senior military officials since 2018.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told reporters before the meeting
that the military repression "has reached an unbearable extent".
Washington had already sanctioned Min Aung Hlaing and the measures
announced on Monday expanded the list.
There was no immediate response from the junta, which has shown no
sign so far of being swayed by international condemnation of its
actions.
Myanmar's neighbours are also speaking out against the violence,
which is rare for countries in the region.
"We believe violence against unarmed civilians is inexcusable,"
Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in Kuala Lumpur
after talks with his Malaysian counterpart.
"We still believe there should be no external interference in the
domestic affairs of a country, but to the maximum extent
possible...we stand ready to do our best to support the people of
Myanmar who in fact deserve so much better in the future."
The junta said it is cooperating with five neighbouring countries -
Bangladesh, China, India, Laos and Thailand - and values and
respects their words, plus any countries that respect the stability
of Myanmar.
(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Ed Davies and Raju
Gopalakrishnan; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
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