mizzima.com-March 27
On 79th Myanmar Armed Forces Day, the UK government has issued a stern rebuff to the Myanmar military junta over its brutality and rights abuse. The military junta will hold the ceremony of the 79th Armed Forces Day on the evening of 27 March. Normally, the event is held in the morning. The UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan made a video call to convey the UK government’s concern over the behavior of the Myanmar junta. Excerpts of her speech: At least 20 people were killed in Myanmar by military airstrikes this month alone. This includes 3 children. As the military regime hold parades on the streets of Naypyidaw to mark Armed Forces Day, the people of Myanmar continue to suffer from the continuing battleground across their country. Over 18 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and one in three people have been forced to leave their homes due to the conflict. Civilians across Myanmar are subjected to horrendous acts of violence at the military regime’s hands, including the use of air strikes, shelling and arson, which has destroyed homes, schools, healthcare facilities and places of worship.
Torture, killings, arrests, repression and denial of humanitarian access to many parts of the country are part of the military regime’s strategy to discriminate against members of religious and ethnic groups, including the Rohingya people. Their suffering has only been compounded by the recent escalation of the conflict in Rakhine state. Additionally, we are very concerned by the military’s recent announcement on conscription, which is inflicting more distress on the people of Myanmar. So, on Myanmar Armed Forces Day, the UK remembers those who have been killed, those who have been displaced and those who continue to be oppressed by the military regime. So today, on Myanmar Armed Forces Day, the UK stands with the people of Myanmar and their desire for a peaceful, inclusive and democratic future. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2024/03/27/8405#google_vignette
