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Singapore calls on Myanmar's military to stop using lethal force against civilians CNA
SINGAPORE: Singapore's Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday (Mar 1) called on Myanmar's military to stop the use of lethal force on civilians and the immediate release of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other political detainees.
At least 18 people died on Sunday, said the United Nations human rights office, as Myanmar authorities cracked down on protests against the military coup.
Speaking during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MFA) Committee of Supply debate, Dr Balakrishnan said the recent developments in Myanmar are of "grave concern" to Singapore and the larger Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) family.
"The immediate priority is to halt all acts of violence and the use of lethal force, and to step back from a rapidly deteriorating situation," said Dr Balakrishnan.
He highlighted a "significant escalation in violence" on Sunday across cities in Myanmar.
"Security forces shot at civilians with live rounds, rubber bullets, stun grenades, and tear gas - many deaths and injuries were caused," said the Foreign Minister.
"We are appalled by the use of lethal force against civilians," said Dr Balakrishnan, adding his condolences to the families of those who died.
Singapore "strongly reiterates" that the use of lethal weapons against unarmed civilians is "inexcusable in all circumstances", said Dr Balakrishnan.
"We call on the Myanmar military authorities to exercise utmost restraint, to desist from the use of lethal force, and to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation in order to prevent further bloodshed, violence and death," he added.
Prolonged instability in Myanmar would have "serious consequences" for the country, ASEAN, and across the region, he said.
He called on all parties in Myanmar to engage in discussions and to negotiate "in good faith", and to pursue long-term peaceful political solutions for them to "achieve national reconciliation, including ... to find a way to get back to the path of democratic transition".
"We believe this can only begin if President Win Myint, and State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, and the other political detainees are immediately released," said Dr Balakrishnan.
ASEAN'S ROLE
Despite ASEAN’s core principles of consensus and non-interference, it can still play a constructive role in facilitating a return to normalcy and stability in Myanmar, said Dr Balakrishnan.
"This was why Singapore strongly supported ASEAN’s efforts from the start, including the ASEAN Chair’s Statement," he said.
"We believe in engagement and dialogue in good faith with all relevant stakeholders."
A special ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting will be convened via videoconference on Tuesday to listen to a representative of the Myanmar military authorities.
Dr Balakrishnan also said that ASEAN will work closely with its external partners to foster an inclusive dialogue with key stakeholders.
"We must ensure that the mutually beneficial relations that ASEAN and our partners that have built up do not become paralysed by this issue," he said.
YANGON: Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi faced court on Monday (Mar 1) via video link, being seen by her lawyer for the first time since a military coup one month ago triggered relentless and massive protests.
Aung San Suu Kyi's appearance came as demonstrators took to the streets again across the country in defiance of an escalation of force from the junta that on Sunday resulted in the deadliest day of unrest since the takeover.
At least 18 people died on Sunday as troops and police fired live bullets at demonstrators in cities across Myanmar, according to the United Nations, which cited its own credible information.
Aung San Suu Kyi, 75, appeared healthy during Monday's court appearance, lawyer Khin Maung Zaw, told AFP by telephone during a break in proceedings.
An additional charge from Myanmar's colonial-era penal code, which prohibits publishing information that may "cause fear or alarm", was filed against her during the hearing, Lawyer Min Min Soe said.
Aung San Suu Kyi had requested to see her legal team during the hearing via video link, the lawyer added.
Min Min Soe said the next hearing would be on Mar 15.
Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in Naypyidaw, the nation's capital, before dawn on the day of the coup, and had not been since in public since.
She has reportedly been kept under house arrest in Naypyidaw, an isolated city that the military built during a previous dictatorship.
The military has justified its takeover, ending a decade-long democratic experiment, by making unfounded allegations of widespread fraud in last November's national elections.
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy won the election in a landslide.
The generals have hit Aung San Suu Kyi with two charges the international community widely regards as frivolous - relating to importing walkie talkies and staging a campaign rally during the pandemic.
Monday's court proceedings were preliminary matters in the case, including with Khin Maung Zaw seeking to formally represent her.
UPRISING
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to streets regularly over the past month to oppose the coup.
While the military has steadily increased the type of force used to try to contain the uprising, beginning with tear gas and water cannons, this weekend's violence saw the biggest escalation.
One person was shot while crouching behind rubbish bins and other makeshift shields, and had to be dragged away by others, with the incident filmed by media.
AFP independently confirmed 10 deaths in Sunday's violence, although there were fears the toll could be much higher.
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a reliable monitoring group, estimated that about 30 people had been killed by security forces since the coup on Feb 1.
On Monday, protests erupted again in multiple cities across the country, with demonstrators in Yangon using bamboo poles, sofas and tree branches to erect barricades across streets.
In one clash broadcast live on Facebook and verified by AFP, unarmed protesters fled after a volley of shots were fired.
It was not immediately clear if the security forces had fired live rounds or rubber bullets.
Hundreds of people were also arrested over the weekend with many in Yangon taken to Insein Prison, where Myanmar's leading democracy campaigners have served long jail terms under previous dictatorships.
More than 1,100 people have been arrested, charged, or sentenced since the coup, according to The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.
One reporter was also shot with rubber bullets on the weekend while covering a protest in the central city of Pyay, their employer said.
Several journalists documenting Saturday's assaults by security forces were detained, including an Associated Press photographer in Yangon.
"We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, said.
The United States has been one of the most outspoken critics of the junta, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reacted with horror after Sunday's violence.
"We condemn the Burmese security forces' abhorrent violence against the people of Burma & will continue to promote accountability for those responsible," Blinken tweeted, using the country's old name.
