Conflicts & War

Myanmar information ministry account suspended for violation of Twitter rules

Bangkok, Mar 21 (efe-epa).- Twitter suspended Sunday the account of the Myanmar information ministry as anti-coup protests continue unabated, in which nearly 250 people have lost their lives in weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations since the military toppled an elected government.

“Account suspended. Twitter suspends accounts which violate the Twitter rules,” reads the message on the landing page of @myanmar_moi, the suspended account of the ministry.

The ministry, which is now in the control of the country’s all-powerful army, has been posting versions of information from the military junta since the Feb.1 coup.

The return of the military rule after toppling the government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy has sparked street protests, seeking the restoration of democracy in the Southeast Asian country that was under the army dictatorship from 1962 to 2011.

Security forces have allegedly killed at least 247 people in the weeks of the pro-democracy uprising, according to the advocacy group, Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners (AAPP).

At least 12 of them were killed on Saturday, the group said.

“(It) is the number documented and verified by AAPP, the actual number of casualties is likely much higher,” said the independent monitor.

“The military and so-called police loot and destroy public and private properties daily. People are living in fear. People are being intimidated, verbally berated and treated as combatants.”

It said a total of 2,345 people have been arrested since Feb.1. Some 351 have been released.

The detained politicians include the leader of the deposed elected government, Suu Kyi.

“(Nearly) 1,994 are still under detention or have outstanding charges or evading arrest, including the 15 sentenced,” the group said.

Despite facing severe repression with batons, tear-gas shells, and being shot with rubber and live bullets, protesters have continued to come out on the streets against the junta every day, demanding the release of the detainees and restoration of democracy.

Protesters took to the streets across the country in cities like Mandalay, where doctors led the march Sunday.

The military has justified taking power after alleged electoral fraud in the November elections, in which international observers did not detect any wrongdoing.

Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won a landslide victory in the polls. EFE-EPA

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