kyiv.Ukraine.Ukraine Gate – December 6,2021- The United Nations has called on Myanmar’s military junta to investigate the deaths of five protesters who were crushed by a police car that crashed into the crowd.
On Sunday, protesters reportedly shared photos and videos on social media of a police car driving into a crowd of protesters in the capital, Yangon.
Local media reported that the incident occurred minutes after a demonstration against a military junta that seized power in the country on February 1. Security forces also reportedly detained 15 protesters.
“Those responsible for the abuse of force against unarmed civilians must be punished,” said Ramanathan Balakrishnan, the UN envoy to Myanmar. The incident was also condemned at the US Embassy, which noted that they were outraged by the deaths of protesters.
At the same time, the government denies the incident and says that the police dispersed the crowd that organized the “illegal riot”. Several people were reported injured and eight others were arrested, but no deaths were reported. The Myanmar government did not respond to a Reuters request to confirm the incident.
Instead, Reuters sources report that the incident did take place in Yangon. They note that security forces deliberately directed the car into the crowd to disperse them.
The media say hundreds of people have been killed in protests against the junta in Myanmar.
Last week, Human Rights Watch published a report that security forces had killed at least 65 protesters in March this year in Yangon.