The United Nations special rapporteur for Burma issued a warning on Tuesday (February 16th), declaring himself
"terrified"
by the risk of escalating violence in the country, three weeks after the military coup.
Read also: Burma: the junta continues its repression and cuts the internet for the second night in a row
Burma was isolated from the rest of the world for the third night in a row on Tuesday due to an almost total loss of internet connections.
As protesters against the coup are set to rally again in major cities on Wednesday, as they have been doing for days, UN envoy Tom Andrews has sounded the alarm.
"I fear another upsurge in violence in Burma on Wednesday, on a larger scale than what we have seen since the government took power illegally on February 1,"
said Tom Andrews.
In his statement, Tom Andrews said he had
"received information that soldiers had been sent from peripheral regions to Yangon"
, the economic capital of the country, where the demonstrators are massing.
“In the past, such troop movements preceded large-scale killings, disappearances and detentions
,” he said.
"I am terrified that, given the confluence of these two movements - the planned massive protests and the convergence of troops - the military could be on the verge of committing even more serious crimes against the people of Burma."
.
Read also: Burma: new indictment of Aung San Suu Kyi
Tom Andrews also said he
"heard that a secret trial"
of Aung San Suu Kyi and ex-President Win Myint began this week.
The lawyer for the former head of the civilian government, Khin Maung Zaw, announced on Tuesday that a second charge had been brought against his client.
He said she and Win Myint were scheduled to appear by video conference in a trial on March 1.
Andrews called on the international community to put pressure on the generals and
"convince the junta that the gatherings scheduled for Wednesday must be able to take place without arrests or violence
.
"
"The continued repression of the fundamental freedoms and human rights of the Burmese population must end immediately,"
he added.
He also urged foreign companies to cut ties with Burma if the generals
"continue on this violent path
.
"
