UN ‘concerned’ over cordoning of anti-coup protesters in Myanmar's largest city

The United Nations has expressed concern over safety of some 200 protesters who were cornered by the country's security forces in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, to quell ongoing protests.

“We are deeply concerned about the fate of some 200 peaceful protesters -- incl. women -- who have been cordoned by security forces in Yangon,” the UN human rights office said in a tweet on Monday.

It warned that the cordon laid around protestors could result in their “arrest or ill-treatment.”

“We urge the police to immediately allow them to leave safely and without reprisals,” the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet said, hours after three protestors were shot dead during demonstrations against the ruling military junta.

Thousands of people on Monday stormed the streets of Yangon, defying stringent night curfew and chanting vociferous slogans against the military.

At least nine trade unions dealing with key sectors, including construction, agriculture and manufacturing, had called on people to stop work in order to reverse the military coup.

Allowing business and economic activity to continue, the unions said in a statement, would help the military “as they repress the energy of the Myanmar people.”

“The time to take action in defense of our democracy is now,” it asserted, vowing to continue the ‘civil disobedience movement’.

After Monday’s violent protests, UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Liz Throssell was quoted as saying that an estimated 200 participants "had been stopped from leaving a four-street area in the Sanchaung area of Yangon."

A protester, Maung Saungkha, also wrote on Twitter that almost 200 young protesters were still blocked by the police and soldiers there, urging the local and international community to “help them.”

The country has been in the grip of turmoil since the February 1 coup that overthrew the country’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, leading to spontaneous nationwide protests.

To quell the growing anger and resentment, the military forces have allegedly used disproportionate force, even imposing brutal crackdown on demonstrators.

More than 50 people have lost their lives and nearly 1,800 have been arrested so far, according to data from the United Nations and Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group.

The ruling military ran a front-page advertisement on Monday, threatening unspecified “action” against anyone who directly or indirectly works for ousted lawmakers.

The ruling military has been under tremendous pressure to restore the democratic rule, with the US and some other Western countries imposing sanctions, Australia cutting defense ties and the European Union set to widen sanctions to target businesses run by the military, according to reports.

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