ASEAN Agreement in Shreds... Over 10 Deaths in 8 Days Despite 'Cease Violence' Call

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The agreement to halt violence between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders and the Myanmar military junta has fallen apart. On the 2nd (local time), the military caused the deaths of at least eight civilians, resulting in over ten fatalities since the agreement was made at the end of last month.

According to local media reports, street protests against the military regime took place across Myanmar on this day. During the military's crackdown on protesters, grenades were thrown and firearms were discharged, causing deaths in multiple locations.

In Mandalay, the second-largest city, two people died from gunfire by military and police forces. Fatalities were also reported in Wetlet, Sagaing Region (3 people), Shan State (2 people), and Pakan, Kachin State (1 person).

The eight deaths represent the highest daily toll since the ASEAN agreement on the 24th of last month. Even on the day of the agreement, shootings by military and police forces led to bloodshed in Myanmar.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a Myanmar human rights group, nine civilians had been killed by the military and police up to the day before the agreement. Adding the minimum of eight deaths on this day, nearly 20 civilians have been shot dead within eight days of the agreement, leading to assessments that the agreement has effectively become meaningless.

Christine Schraner Burgener, the UN Special Envoy on Myanmar, stated during a closed virtual meeting of the Security Council on the 31st of last month, "The military's atrocities are severe, and with many ethnic armed groups clearly opposing the military junta, the likelihood of an unprecedented scale civil war is increasing," adding, "Waiting for the military to be ready to engage in dialogue will only worsen the situation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.