Pope Francis Calls for End to Bloodshed in Myanmar

On Wednesday, Pope Francis called for an end to the bloodshed in Myanmar, saying: “Even I kneel on the streets of Myanmar and say ‘stop the violence”.

 

The Pope announced his appeal, the latest since the February 1 military coup, at the end of his weekly sermon delivered remotely from the Vatican Library due to COVID-19 restrictions.

 

About 183 people were killed by security forces in Myanmar during weeks of protests against the military coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported.

 

At least 20 people were killed on Monday, while 74 people were killed on Sunday, ‘Russia Today’ reported.

It is worth mentioning that, the U.N. Security Council failed to agree on a statement that would have condemned the coup in Myanmar, called on the military to show restraint, and threatened to consider “other measures,” but diplomats noted the talks would likely continue.

 

The diplomats said that during an initial attempt to finalize the text, China, Russia, Vietnam, and India proposed late Tuesday to introduce amendments to a British draft, including deleting the reference to a coup, and the threat to consider further measures.

 

Violent clashes between security forces and protesters continued in the country as demonstrators are taking to streets in different cities to protest the military coup that took place on Feb. 1.

 

Earlier, the US Department of Commerce announced imposing sanctions on Myanmar’s Ministries of Defense and home affairs by adding them to its trade blacklist, to punish Myanmar’s army for its Feb 1 coup.

 

Sanctions were imposed on the two ministries, in addition to two other entities in the country, due to the coup in Burma, according to a statement by the U.S. Department.