Burma: junta blocks internet access, UN condemns hundreds of dead

Pro-democracy protesters, including many doctors in white coats on the streets of Rangoon.

The junta's murderous crackdown has claimed more than 500 lives since the February 1 putsch (illustrative image).

AFP - STR

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In Burma, the junta is trying to prevent demonstrators from communicating with each other: it ordered on Thursday evening April 1 to telecommunications companies to block access to the internet.

Meanwhile, the UN Security Council condemns the deaths of civilians in the country.

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The Security Council “

strongly

denounces

the use of violence against peaceful demonstrators

”.

It took two days of laborious negotiations to arrive at a text which was ultimately

watered down by China

: in previous versions the Council was " 

ready to consider new steps

", which could have announced sanctions, which Beijing is opposed to.

Let's call each other

 "

Several dozen UN member countries have also condemned the suspension by the Burmese military on Friday of wireless internet connections, for these countries "restrict access to information".

On the ground, activists are already adapting, setting up SMS alert systems and sharing radio frequencies.

“ 

Let's listen to the radio again.

Let's call each other,

 ”wrote in the night on his Facebook page

Khin Sadar

, one of the figures of the movement, who also called on the Burmese to drop flowers at the bus stops this Friday, April 3, from where demonstrators left before being killed by the security forces.

The number of children killed has more than doubled

The advocacy group of the Association for Political Prisoners estimates that 543 people have been killed since the protests began, including 44 children.

According to the NGO Save The Children, the number of children killed has more than doubled in the last twelve days.

► To read also: New sanctions against the Burmese regime

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  • Burma

  • Aung San Suu Kyi

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  • Human rights