On Sunday 14 February, ambassadors to Myanmar from the European Union and nine Member States (Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden) and seven non-Member States (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) called on Myanmar’s security forces to refrain from violence against demonstrators and civilians who are “protesting the overthrow of their legitimate government”.
Earlier in the day, security forces had fired on demonstrators in order to disperse them.
“We stand with the people of Myanmar in their quest for democracy, freedom, peace and prosperity”, said the ambassadors in a joint statement.
The ambassadors “unequivocally” condemn the detention and ongoing arrests of political leaders, civil society activists and civil servants, as well as the harassment of journalists. They also denounced the military’s interruption of communications, as well as the restriction of the Myanmar people’s fundamental rights and basic legal protections.
In Myanmar, communications have been severely disrupted since the military coup that took place at the end of January, which resulted in an almost universal interruption of the country’s Internet access (see EUROPE 12648/4).
“The world is watching” what is happening in Myanmar, warned the ambassadors.
The situation in the country will be discussed by the EU Foreign Ministers on Monday 22 February. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)