May 7, 2021 Share
The shadow government of ousted former lawmakers in Myanmar has formed an armed militia aimed at opposing the military junta that seized control of the country in a coup on February 1 and killed more than 760 people who protested against the army takeover, organizers said Wednesday.
The National Unity Government said the creation of the People’s Defense Force was exercising the authority given to it with the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy in November elections.
The three-week-old NUG said the force is necessary to prevent killings and other violent acts against the people by the junta, which calls itself the State Administration Council.
Reuters
The shadow government of ousted former lawmakers in Myanmar have formed an armed militia aimed at opposing the military junta that seized control of the country in a coup on Feb. 1 and killed more than 760 people who protested against the army takeover, organizers said Wednesday.
The National Unity Government (NUG) said the creation of the “People’s Defense Force” (PDF) was exercising the authority given to it with the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) in November elections.
The three-week-old NUG said the force is necessary to prevent killings and other violent acts against the people by the junta, which calls itself the State Administration Council (SAC).
UN: refer conflict-related sexual violence to ICC
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Berlin, Germany, on December 17, 2020 [AP Photo/Michael Sohn/Pool/Anadolu Agency] April 16, 2021 at 10:59 am
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended the Security Council to refer cases of conflict-related sexual violence in a number of countries to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The countries in question include six members of the Arab League: Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Libya and Somalia.
The UN chief made the recommendation in his annual report presented during an online meeting of the council by Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten. She added that sexual violence with a level of cruelty behind comprehension has occurred in Ethiopia s Tigray Region. In her testimony to the council members, Patten pointed out that, Healthcare workers in the region are documenting new cases of rape and gang rape daily.
Orange County Citizens Hope to Raise Awareness of Conflict in Burma March 17, 2021 Updated: March 18, 2021
STANTON, Calif. Burmese citizens in Orange County, California, say they’re heartbroken by the ongoing situation in Burma (also known as Myanmar) following last month’s military coup, and are urging U.S. officials to become more actively involved in restoring the country’s democracy.
The city of Stanton is home to Orange County’s largest Burmese community and the county’s only Burmese restaurant, Irrawaddy Taste of Burma. Restaurant owner Banny Hong, along with other members of the Burmese diaspora in the region, are concerned for family members and friends suffering through the turmoil.