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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Tuesday said that at least 149 people have been killed since the military coup in Myanmar in February as a result of actions by security forces.
“At least 149 people have been killed as a result of unlawful use of lethal force since 1 February, when the military overthrew the civilian government,” she said in a statement.
“Of these, at least 11 were killed on Monday, and 57 over the weekend,” she added.
Shamdasani further took note that under the martial law — declared by the military in several townships in and around Yangon and Mandalay — military law would apply to civilians with both stricter curfews and subjecting offenders to military tribunals without the right of appeal.
“We are deeply disturbed that the crackdown continues to intensify, and we again call on the military to stop killing and detaining protestors”, Shamdasani said.
She also noted that arrests and detentions continued throughout the country, with more than 2,084 people remaining arbitrarily detained. Moreover, at least five deaths in custody have occurred in recent weeks, with at least two victims’ bodies showing signs of “severe physical abuse indicating that they were tortured”.
Shamdassani reiterated the call by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on all actors with influence to take measures to end the state violence against the Myanmar people.
On February 1, Myanmar’s military overthrew the government and declared a year-long state of emergency hours before the newly-elected parliament was due to convene.
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, along with other top officials accused of election fraud, have been placed under house arrest. The coup triggered mass protests across the country.
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