Dominic Raab will tell UN to get tough on Myanmar: Foreign Secretary is to urge the country’s army leadership to step aside following military coup after branding latest shootings in which two people died as ‘beyond the pale’
- Dominic Raab will call on the United Nations to confront the Myanmar coup
- Foreign Secretary to urge Myanmar’s army leadership to step aside in his speech
- Britain has already frozen the assets of three senior Myanmar military officials
Dominic Raab will today call on the United Nations to confront the military coup in Myanmar after more protesters were shot dead.
The Foreign Secretary will also urge the country’s army leadership to step aside in a speech to the UN’s Human Rights Council.
Yesterday he described the latest shootings in which two died as ‘beyond the pale’.
Britain has frozen the assets of three senior military officials while other sanctions are also in place.
Dominic Raab (pictured) will today call on the United Nations to confront the military coup in Myanmar after more protesters were shot dead
The military junta took over after detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1.
The funeral of a protester drew thousands of demonstrators onto the streets of the country’s second biggest city.
Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, 19, was shot by police on February 9th. Her death was confirmed on Friday.
Two protesters were shot dead on Saturday – with 20 people hospitalised after the same incident.
Protests against the military dictatorship have spread across Myanmar amid growing concerns for the safety of those taking to the streets.
The military junta took over after detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. Pictured: Protestors hold signs calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi
In Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, about 1,000 people honoured Mya Thwet Thwet Khine in a protest held beneath a flyover.
‘I want to say through the media to the dictator and his associates, we are peaceful demonstrators,’ said Min Htet Naing.
‘Stop the genocide! Stop using lethal weapons!’
The two demonstrators shot dead on Saturday were protesting in support of striking dock workers.
Shooting broke out after neighbourhood residents rushed to the Yadanabon dock to try to assist the workers.
One of the victims, described as a teenage boy, was shot in the head and died immediately, while another was shot in the chest and died on the way to hospital.
The funeral of a protester drew thousands of demonstrators onto the streets of the country’s second biggest city. Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, 19, was shot by police on February 9th. Her death was confirmed on Friday. Pictured: A the casket of Mya Thwet Khine travels to the cemetery in Myanmar
Several other serious injuries were also reported.
Witness accounts and photos of bullet casings indicated that the security forces used live ammunition. The deaths were condemned by the international community.
Last night the Foreign Office released a draft of Mr Raab’s UN speech: ‘The position in Myanmar gets worse. The violations and abuses are well-documented, including arbitrary detention and draconian restrictions on freedom of expression. That crisis presents an increased risk to the Rohingya and other ethnic minorities.
‘The military must step aside. Civilian leaders must be released. And the democratic wishes of the people of Myanmar must be respected. That is why at this session we will again co-sponsor the resolution renewing the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, so he can continue his essential work.’
Yesterday Facebook announced that it had taken down the page run by the Myanmar military information unit. The Facebook ban came as the internet was shut down by the military for the seventh night in a row.
The military junta took power after detaining Ms Suu Kyi and preventing Parliament from convening, saying elections last November were tainted by voting irregularities.