One day marks three years since the military staged a coup in Myanmar. Under these circumstances, pro-democracy forces called for a "silence strike" to protest against the military in various places including Yangon, the largest city, and the streets were cut off.
In Myanmar, on February 1, three years ago, the military staged a coup d'état, claiming that the general election held the previous year had been rigged, and overthrew pro-democracy movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi. They are restrained and continue to hold power.
According to human rights organizations in Myanmar, more than 4,400 civilians have died in military attacks and repression over the past three years, and it is estimated that nearly 20,000 people are still detained.
On the 1st, calls for a "silent strike" in which people did not take to the streets were called for in various places, and in the center of the largest city, Yangon, traffic and traffic ceased after 10 a.m., demonstrating the citizens' deep-rooted opposition to the military. It had been.
After the coup, the military continues to insist that it will hold an election to transition to civilian rule, but on January 31, it announced that it would extend the state of emergency declared in connection with the coup for another six months, and the election will not be held. The outlook is uncertain.
On January 31, pro-democracy forces and ethnic minority armed groups adopted a joint statement stating that they aim to establish a system based on federalism and democracy, and have indicated a stance of increasing armed offensives against the military.
March of Buddhist groups supporting the military Was it mobilization by the military?
Meanwhile, in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, on the 1st, approximately 2,000 people, including members of Buddhist groups that support the military, were seen marching through the deserted streets holding the Myanmar national flag.
In Myanmar, demonstrations without permission from the military are prohibited, so the participants appear to have been mobilized by the military to counter a "silence strike" called by pro-democracy forces.
UN Secretary-General calls for cooperation from international community towards return to civilian rule
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a statement on the third anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar, saying that over the past three years, the number of people in Myanmar in need of urgent humanitarian assistance has increased from 1 million to 18.6 million. ``Myanmar's crisis continues to worsen,'' he said, expressing strong concern.
"We condemn all forms of violence and call for the protection of civilians and the cessation of hostilities. Military violence and political repression targeting civilians must end," Guterres said. He called for the cooperation of the international community in restoring Myanmar to civilian rule.
Foreign Minister Kamikawa indicates intention to actively provide humanitarian aid
Foreign Minister Kamikawa issued a statement saying, ``I am seriously concerned that the situation in Myanmar is worsening year by year.Myanmar military has repeatedly extended the state of emergency without working towards a peaceful resolution of the issue.'' "We strongly condemn the situation in which many civilians are being killed and injured every day due to violence such as air strikes and air strikes."
Furthermore,
they are strongly calling for an
immediate end to air strikes and other violence, as well as the release of NLD (National League for Democracy) leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
Furthermore, as the country is facing a humanitarian crisis in which approximately 2.3 million citizens are forced to live as refugees, Japan has indicated its intention to actively provide humanitarian assistance in cooperation with international organizations and NGOs.
Humanitarian Affairs Minister NUG appeals to parliamentarians about the serious humanitarian situation
Win Myat Aye, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs of the National Unity Government (NUG), which was established by pro-democracy forces, came to Japan and attended a meeting at the House of Councilors Building on the 1st.
Win Myat Aye said, ``The military has repeatedly carried out indiscriminate air strikes, and many people have been killed.'' He also said, ``One-third of the people are hungry and in need of food,'' expressing the serious situation in the area. He appealed to members of Congress about the humanitarian situation.
Furthermore, he stated that support from the international community is not being properly delivered to the people because it is provided through the military, and requested Japan's cooperation, calling for a support mechanism through the NUG rather than the military.
Furthermore, pro-democracy forces have claimed that they have achieved military results through cooperation with ethnic minority armed groups, and on January 31, they announced a joint effort to overthrow the military and establish a system based on federalism and democracy. We have released a statement.
Mr. Win Myat Aye expressed his confidence in the path towards democracy, saying, ``We have entered the third year since the coup d'état, and we are at a turning point.The path to victory for the people is open.'' Ta.
Japan also protests against military for democracy
In front of the Myanmar Embassy in Tokyo, Myanmar people living in Japan and others voiced a protest against the military, calling for democracy.
Approximately 300 people, including Myanmar people living in Japan and supporters, gathered in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Shinagawa, Tokyo.
The people gathered held banners and placards saying things like ``The military must stop killing civilians,'' and chanted ``Free Aung San Suu Kyi'' and ``Free the citizens,'' in English. They were chanting chants in Burmese.
A 31-year-old woman from Yangon, the country's largest city, said, ``She says she sometimes hears explosions in Yangon, where her parents and younger brother live, so I'm very worried. I want people to help the people of Myanmar.'' Ta.
A 30-year-old man from a suburb of Yangon said his friends and acquaintances had been subjected to military violence or detention, saying, ``It's very sad to hear about the tragic situation in Myanmar while living peacefully in Japan.'' "Three years have passed since the coup, and things have gotten even worse. I want the international community to cut ties with the military."
Another man who has lived in Japan for about 10 years said, ``I think Japan can do things like make it easier for Myanmar people to obtain visas.'' I asked for assistance.
Myanmar students concerned about economic deterioration in their home country
Myanmar students studying in Ibaraki Prefecture have repeatedly voiced their concerns about their home country, saying that the social and economic situation is deteriorating.
In Myanmar, the military staged a coup d'état on February 1, three years ago, and although the military has since promised to hold elections for a transition to civilian government, the state of emergency has been extended due to the deteriorating security situation, and there are no prospects for implementation. It's not standing. A Myanmar student attending a Japanese language school in Hitachi City spoke to NHK about this situation.
The 23-year-old woman was attending a university in Myanmar, but because she opposed the coup, including posting photos on social media of military planes attacking the city, she moved to Japan for fear of being arrested. She came to Japan in April last year.
She was worried, saying, ``I want the children to be in a situation where they can study in peace as soon as possible.''
In addition, a 20-year-old man said he was concerned about the economic deterioration in his home country, saying, ``I think people are having a hard time making a living because the prices are going up,'' as stores are closing one after another in Myanmar and people are losing their jobs one after another. was doing.