Bachelet, on Myanmar: "It is abominable to use live fire against peaceful protesters"

The High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN, the Chilean Michele Bachelet, has called in a press release this Thursday that the Myanmar security forces "stop their violent repression of peaceful protesters."

The call comes after the most violent day of repression of the protests, with a balance of at least 38 people killed.

The UN Human Rights Office has confirmed that the police and the army are responsible for the deaths of at least 54 people since the military coup on February 1.

However, the institution believes that the real death toll may be even higher.

Bachelet stressed: “The Myanmar military must stop murdering and jailing protesters.

It is abhorrent that the security forces are firing live fire at peaceful protesters across the country. "

The high commissioner has also said she was "horrified" by the attacks on medical personnel and ambulances trying to help the wounded.

Of the deaths documented by the UN, at least 30 have occurred in the cities of Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway and Mon this Wednesday.

One person died on Tuesday and 18 others last Sunday.

There is no specific number of people injured, but the UN office estimates that the number exceeds one hundred.

The note also denounces arrests and imprisonments that it describes as arbitrary.

Since February 1, more than 1,700 people have been arrested for participating in protests or political events.

The list includes parliamentarians, political activists, human rights defenders, teachers, health workers, journalists, civil servants, monks and celebrities.

Among those arrested are the de facto leader of the civilian government, Aung San Suu Kyi, and the president, Win Myint.

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The number of arrests has increased in recent days: on Wednesday alone, at least 700 people were arrested.

However, the office warns that the number may be even higher, as the protests spread to 537 locations in the country.

Some of the detainees have already been sentenced to terms ranging from seven days to two years.

Bachelet has also expressed concern about attacks on journalists: at least 29 journalists have been arrested in recent days, eight of whom have been charged with crimes, including inciting the opposition, hatred of the government or attending an illegal gathering.

The high commissioner affirms that many of these arrests can be considered enforced disappearances and calls for the immediate release of those who remain “arbitrarily detained”.

According to the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances, an enforced disappearance occurs when a person is detained by (or with the consent of) state actors, and there is no official information on their well-being or whereabouts.

“I urge all those with information and influence, including Myanmar officials who are now joining the civil disobedience movement, to support international efforts to hold military leaders accountable for the serious human rights violations that have been committed so much. now as in the past, ”said Bachelet, citing the work of the Independent Investigation Mechanism for Myanmar and the proceedings before the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

"This is the time to change the scene towards justice and end the military rule over democracy in Myanmar," he concluded.