Burmese junta offers ceasefire to some, as UN envoy warns of ‘bloodshed’

The ceasefire offer appears to refer to measures taken against ethnic armed groups, where fighting has intensified since the junta seized power in a February 1 coup. peace ”and declared that the army“ will unilaterally suspend its operations from April 1 to April 30 ”.

Pro-democracy protesters repeatedly took to the streets of Myanmar for nearly two months to protest the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and senior government officials. The security forces’ response saw unarmed civilians shot dead in the streets, beatings, arbitrary detentions and nightly raids on the homes of suspected opposition members. This weekend was the scene of the bloodiest crackdown to date, with at least 114 people killed on Saturday.

Since Saturday, the military has been carrying out airstrikes in Karen state, forcing thousands of residents to flee the jungle and neighboring countries.

Many of the targeted villages are controlled by the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic armed group that holds large swathes of territory in border areas. The KNU is one of many armed ethnic groups to have supported the protests and condemned the military takeover.

UN Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgner on Wednesday stressed the danger of “widespread and systemic attacks against the civilian population” and warned that a “bloodbath is imminent”, in her remarks to the Security Council.

More than 520 people have been killed since the coup, she said.

“Looking back ten years from now, how will history judge this inaction? I hope you can act while there is still time to avoid the worst outcome by overcoming caution and disagreement,” Burgner told members of the Security Council.

“Need urgent help”

Myanmar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Kyaw Moe Tun sent a letter to the United Nations Secretary-General earlier in the week, highlighting concerns about the safety of civilians in the country and calling for “effective action without delay. To restore democratic leadership.

“The people of Myanmar feel helpless and ask for urgent help from the international community to save the lives of innocent civilians,” Kyaw Moe Tun’s letter read.

The representative appealed to the United Nations and the international community for the protection of the people of Myanmar against the army, assistance for all those in need, the declaration of a no-fly zone to prevent from future airstrikes, tougher sanctions and the freezing of military bank accounts, an immediate weapon. embargo and suspension of foreign direct investment.

UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday that calling for UN intervention was a “general call”.

“I think the Secretary-General has been extremely vocal on Myanmar from the start. We want to be engaged, but there are no spectators in the solution,” Dujarric said.