Some 543 civilians, including more than 40 minors, have been killed by the security forces in Burma who repress any opposition to the new military regime since the coup of February 1, noted the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners ( AAPP).
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The number of children and adolescents killed has doubled in the last twelve days, lamented the NGO Save the Children.
"
It is particularly horrible that several of them were killed in their homes, where they should have been safe from all danger
."
The toll is undoubtedly much heavier: more than 2,700 people have been arrested and many, held incommunicado, without access to their loved one or to a lawyer, are missing.
In Yangon, the economic capital, residents laid flowers at bus stops and other public places in memory of the “
martyrs
”.
The bloodbath of the past few days has sparked yet another round of international protests.
After two days of difficult negotiations, the UN Security Council "
expressed its deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation
", "
strongly
"
condemning
the violence in a unanimous statement.
Some members, including the United States and the United Kingdom argued for a stronger text which envisaged "
new steps
" in the event of further deterioration of the situation, ie a vague allusion to the possibility of international sanctions.
But China, a traditional ally of the Burmese army, is categorically opposed to any coercive measure, as is Russia, which even wishes to deepen its military cooperation with the regime.
The United States and the United Kingdom have already sanctioned conglomerates controlled by the generals.
But the latter turn a deaf ear and relentlessly pursue their bloody response.
They are also tightening their legal grip on the former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, held incommunicado since February 1 but "
in good health
" according to her lawyers.
The 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate is accused of corruption and violating a colonial-era state secrets law.
She is also charged with several other charges.
If found guilty, she faces long years in prison and risks banning from political life.
Mya Aye, former leader of the “
Generation 88
”
democratic movement
, is being prosecuted for incitement to commit criminal offenses, his lawyer said.
The popular uprising of 1988 was bloodily suppressed by the army, with some 3,000 dead.