Civilian Death Toll Reaches 612, US Adds Sanctions To Myanmar Military Regime

Medics evacuate myanmar military antiquities protesters. (Twitter/@MizzimaNews)

JAKARTA - Myanmar's military regime is increasingly brutal in the face of antiquities protesters February 1. In Taze Township, Sagaing region, 11 civilians were killed and about 30 others injured in clashes with military regime forces.

Using firearms and handguns, residents attempted to prevent seven trucks full of troops from entering the city around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.

Residents claim the troops were deployed to crack down on daily anti-regime protests in Taze, which has attracted tens of thousands of people but has not been attacked by junta forces until yesterday.

"Taze protesters fought against troops using automatic firearms and sniper rifles. After the civilians retreated, troops were deployed in the city on Wednesday night", one resident told The Irrawaddy.

Residents said people were leaving the city and the wounded were seeking treatment elsewhere to avoid junta forces. On Thursday, Taze was empty amid the announcement of loudspeakers by the military that threatened to shoot anyone seen in the street.

Separately, Protesters in Kale Township, Sagaing Region, also faced dawn raids to remove street blocks of protesters on Wednesday.

During the raids, Myanmar's military regime used explosives and sharp bullets against protesters armed with assembled firearms, air rifles, and catapults, according to the protesters.

Some 12 protesters were killed, mostly by explosives, and more than 12 were injured. Three civilians who did not protest were shot dead and their bodies were taken away by junta forces, a source said.

"They used explosives and automatic fire against protesters. That's unacceptable. This is not an actual war", said an eyewitness.

With the death toll rising on Thursday, the number of civilians killed during the military antiquities protests held in early February reached 612 people.

Separately, the United States has again added sanctions against Myanmar's military regime, as civilian casualties continue to rise.

Most recently, through the Treasury Department, the United States imposed sanctions on Myanmar-owned gem companies, to limit the military regime's ability to generate revenue.

"Today's action highlights the Treasury Department's commitment to denying Burma military funding sources, including from major state-owned companies throughout Burma", Andrea Gacki, Director of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Supervision, said in a statement to Reuters.

The United States, along with other Western countries, has sanctioned the generals involved in the coup and some members of their families, as well as two conglomerates controlled by Myanmar's military. Junta leaders have so far refused to turn around.

"Myanma Gems Enterprise, part of the country's mining ministry, is placed on the Treasury Department's Specially Flagged Citizens list," the statement continued.

The move prevents Americans from doing business with the entity, which issues permits and licenses to mine precious stones and collect revenue from the sale of gems and jade.

Myanmar is the world's main source of jade, a much sought-after stone in China, as well as a major source of rubies and other rare gems.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement the blacklist was made when leaders of Myanmar's military regime attended a gem emporium in Myanmar's capital, Naypyitaw earlier this week.

"The United States will continue to increase pressure on the regime's revenue streams until it stops its violence, unjustly frees all detained, revokes military emergencies and national emergencies, removes telecommunications restrictions, and returns Burma to the path of democracy", Blinken said.

Myanmar coup. VOI editor continues to monitor the political situation in one of ASEAN's member countries. Civilian casualties continue to fall. Readers can follow the news about Myanmar's military coup by tapping this link.