UN Special Envoy on Myanmar condemns firing on protesters as ‘bloodiest day’ since military coup

United Nations Special Envoy for Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener has condemned Wednesday’s firing on the people protesting against the military coup and said that it was the “bloodiest day” since the February 1 coup.

“Today was the bloodiest day since the coup happened on the first of February. Only today, 38 people died…Now, more than 50 people died since the coup started,” Schraner Burgener said during a press briefing.

“We know that ethnic armed organisations are determined not to allow this to continue. They also said that they’d suspend the dialogue with the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military]. If both sides start to use violence, then we have a situation of a real war in Myanmar,” she added.

The demonstration against the Myanmar Army has entered its fourth week now. Security forces have begun a violent crackdown on protestors in towns and cities across the country.

On Sunday alone, 18 people were killed and more than 30 were left injured in Myanmar as police and military forces “confronted peaceful demonstrations,” the UN Human Rights Office said.

The reported casualties marked Sunday as the deadliest day since the military seized power on February 1.

The UN Human Rights Office said it had received “credible information” about the use of deadly force against peaceful protesters in “several locations” in Myanmar on Sunday.

“Deaths reportedly occurred as a result of live ammunition fired into crowds in Yangon, Dawei, Mandalay, Myeik, Bago and Pokokku,” a statement from spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said.

Meanwhile, a Myanmar-based human rights group says at least 15 reporters and camera crew have been detained while covering the protests as of Tuesday.

Despite increasing international pressure to restore the democratically-elected government, the Myanmar junta have ignored the condemnation and has continued to violently suppress the protests against its unlawful takeover of the country.

Moreover, Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was detained following the coup, said that two more charges have been added to those filed against her since the coup.