Six rebels killed by Myanmar military say anti-coup forces say Myanmar News

Six opposition rebels have been killed by the military in recent days in Myanmar, a civilian defense force said on Sunday that the United Kingdom and the United States had condemned military violence against civilians.

Since the military took power in a February 1 coup, the arrest of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and his removal from office, national uprising he has refused requests to return to democracy.

The bombings are reported daily and local militias have been set up to fight the army, anti-protest militias have been maintained throughout the Southeast Asian country and strikes by coup leaders have halted the economy.

In the western state of Chin, the town of Mindat has emerged as a site of unrest as some residents have created the Chinland Defense Force (CDF).

“Six members of our CDF who tried to protect the safety of the people of Mindat were attacked [the military] and they sacrificed their lives for the national revolution, ”the CDF said on Sunday.

A spokesman told the AFP news agency that more than 10 members were injured this week, while five military residents of Mindat were arrested.

As mobile data is blocked across the country, details of the fighting have come out slowly, and ground verification is more difficult because locals are afraid of revenge.

The spokesman, who declined to be named, said CDF fighters set fire to several army trucks, destroyed them, and attacked army soldiers, the town being attacked by artillery.

By Sunday, the CDF was back in the jungle, he said.

“We won’t stay in town … but we’ll be back to attack soon,” he said. “We just have homemade guns. That wasn’t enough. “

He added that the residents of Mindat, who have been under martial law since Thursday, were afraid to leave their homes for fear that the military would target them.

Violence ‘cannot be justified’

The U.S. and UK embassies in Myanmar sounded the alarm over unrest in Mindat on Saturday, as security forces called for an end to the violence.

“The military’s use of weapons of war against civilians, even this week in Mindat, is a demonstration of the depth that the regime will sink to seize power,” the U.S. embassy said in a tweet on Saturday.

“Attacks on civilians are illegal and cannot be justified,” the British embassy said, reporting on the violence in Mindat.

“Evidence of savagery should be sent [United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar] so the perpetrators can be held accountable, ”the embassy tweeted, referring to a commission that collects evidence of international crime.

‘Keep the Faith’

Security forces have killed at least 796 people since the February 1 coup, a local control group said, with nearly 4,000 people behind the looting.

Despite the threat of violence and arrest, protesters in Myanmar continue to take to the streets every day in support of democracy – some even cheering on Mindat’s defense force for their resistance.

Local media showed images of residents of the central city of Monywa who were on strike on Saturday night, writing the words “Hang in there, Mindat” with candles.

On Sunday, protesters from the northern Hpakant marched through the area they were already producing with the slogan “Stay strong, Mindat!” We, Hpakant, are always behind you! “

Pope Francis held a special service to Myanmar on Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, calling for an end to the bloodshed and calling on believers not to lose hope.

“In these days of your beloved country Myanmar experiencing violence, conflict and repression, let us ask ourselves: what do they call us to maintain? First, to maintain the faith,” said the 84-year-old pontiff.

Francis has spoken more than once since the coup about the Myanmar crisis, and called on the military government to respect “democratic coexistence” with the people, demanding the release of political leaders.