Russia, a "True Friend" to Myanmar

"Security forces are murdering unarmed civilians, including children, the very people they swore to protect."

"This bloodshed is horrifying. These are not the actions of a professional military or police force."

"Myanmar’s people have spoken clearly: they do not want to live under military rule."

"We call for an immediate end to the violence and the restoration of the democratically elected government."

U.S. Ambassador Thomas Vajda   

 

"I think around 10am or 10.30, police and soldiers came to that area and then they started to shoot at civilians. They didn't give any warning to the civilians." 

"They just came out and they started to shoot. They used rubber bullets but they also used live bullets to kill civilians in a violent way." 

Student protester, Mandalay  

 

"[At least 50 people had now been killed] and many wounded."

"[One video clip showed police beating an unarmed volunteer medical crew. Another showed a protester being shot and probably killed on the street]."  

"I asked some weapons experts and they could verify to me, it's not clear but it seems that the police weapons like 9mm submachine guns, so live ammunition [was in use]."

UN envoy to Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener

The US said it was appalled by Wednesday's violence  Reuters

Ahead of the Myanmar junta's plan to proceed with the annual Armed Forces Day celebration, the most prestigious of days for the military, a broadcast on the MRTV news channel spoke directly to protesters, telling them: "You should learn ... that you can be in danger of getting shot to the head and back"; warning protesters of the military's no-hold-barred response to continuing protests against proceeding as they have been since the February 1 coup that removed the elected government to be replaced by the military.

The response from determined Burmese was to just go on protesting. Even though the day before saw a record 38 protesters dying from counter-protest actions on the part of the military who fired live rounds at the people. Western sources are horrified, condemning the violence against the civilian population. The United Nations, as usual, urges calm and a return to democracy. The Security Council cannot proceed with a condemnation of the Burmese military, since China and Russia are in full support of the coup.

Troops parade in Naypyitaw on March 27 during Armed Forces Day, the Myanmar military's most important annual event.   © Reuters

Saturday's festivities celebrating the Myanmar military proceeded as planned. There were military representatives from eight neighbouring nations besides Russia, including China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Russia's deputy defence minister Alexander Fomin arrived in the capital Naypyitaw to meet with junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. Nyanmar state television broadcast the two men inspecting a display of 'weapons' seized from protesters.

That included makeshift shields, motorcycle helmets and unlit petrol bombs. The Deputy Defence Minister lauded Myanmar as a reliable ally to Russia and a valued strategic partner in Asia. He was there to attend the parade marking Armed Forces Day held on Saturday, as an indication of Russia's high regard for its ally. All others were military attaches, lower ranking personnel representing Burma's near neighbours.

Russia's Defence Ministry's Zvezd TV channel ran a video showing Fomin shaking hands and receiving a medal and a ceremonial sword from Min Aung Hlaing with uniformed military officers in attendance. "You, distinguished Senior General, took part in our parade last year, our parade commemorating the 75th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War", Fomin is shown, telling the junta leader, in reference to the Second World War.

Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Aleksandr Fomin (left) receives a medal from Burma's armed forces chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, on March 26.

In the most  high-profile sign to date of Russia's support for the new Myanmar rulers despite outrage throughout the West along with deep concerns the country's Asian neighbours have expressed for the plight of the protesters in the Burmese military's violent response to the public's wish to have Aung San Suu Kyi returned to govern the nation, Myanmar is clearly content with the support it has received from Russia and China, to offset the condemnation from the West.

According to MRTV, Min Aung Hlaing informed Fomin of his gratitude for the visit "amid our political transformational situation and the COVID-19 pandemic". A total of 320 people have been killed in the crackdown on dissent, according to activist groups. The result of which has seen the United States, Britain, Australia and the European Union imposing sanctions on the ruling military council, along with the army's broad network of businesses.

Moscow has provided army training and offered university scholarships to thousands of Burmese soldiers. It has also provided arms to the military that has been blacklisted by a number of Western countries reacting to the military's atrocities against its civilian population. According to a 2020 study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia is the source of some 15 percent of weapons sourced by Myanmar from 2014 to 2019. Which it has so far  used only against its own people.

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