It's hardly a surprise but an affirmation of the obvious. Myanmar's military regime is being backed, supported and protected by both Russia and China. What's new is that the specifics of this assistance have come to light in a landmark United Nations report uncovering the extent of arms and munitions transfers to Myanmar, beset by longtime military rule, amid spurts of democratic governance, but overall isolation and indifference.
Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Jared Golden pushed for more military aid to Ukraine after touring Bath Iron Works Monday. U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday joined the Maine politicians at the facility.
Mr. Andrews – a former Maine Congressman – stressed that a growing body of reporting indicates that the junta’s security forces are committing acts of murder, imprisonment, persecution and other crimes as part of a coordinated campaign, directed against a civilian population, in a widespread and systematic manner, with the knowledge of the junta’s leadership – thereby likely meeting the legal threshold for crimes against humanity.
“Credible reports indicate that, as of today, Myanmar security forces have murdered at least 70 people.
“The junta is detaining dozens, sometimes hundreds, every day. As of last night, the total number of arbitrary arrests and detentions since 1 February had risen beyond 2,000, and the violence against protesters, including violence against people sitting peacefully in their homes, is steadily increasing,” Mr. Andrews added.