S. Korea joins U.S., others in condemning Myanmar military on 3rd anniv. of coup

The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and other countries issued a joint statement Thursday, urging the Myanmar military to immediately cease all violence against civilians on the third anniversary of its military coup. "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the military regime's ongoing atrocities and human rights violations, such as sexual and gender-based violence, and the restriction of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, through peaceful protests and the media," the statement said. The statement was jointly issued by the high representative of the European Union and the foreign ministers of South Korea, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland. "Three years on from the military coup, we continue to stand in solidarity with the Myanmar people and their desire for an inclusive and genuine democracy in Myanmar," it added. It also called on the military to release all unjustly detained political prisoners, allow full human itarian access and create space for inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders. The diplomats urged the international community's support in efforts to push the Myanmar military to end its violence, and to cease providing it with the arms and equipment used to commit atrocities. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew the government of de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, and seized power. Source: Yonhap News Agency