Death Toll Continues To Increase, US Secretary Of State Calls For Global Companies To Cut Ties With The Myanmar Military

Even though the casualties continued to fall, the people of Myanmar continued to demonstrate against the military coup. (Twitter / @ HsuChiKo1)

JAKARTA - The United States Foreign Minister Antony Blinken on Tuesday, March 20 local time, asked international companies to consider termination with companies that support the Myanmar military.

Blinken also strongly criticized the acts of violence perpetrated by the Myanmar military regime against the February 1 anti-coup protesters.

As of yesterday, at least 512 civilians have died in the nearly two months of protests against the coup, according to the advocacy group Association for Assistance for Police Prisoners (AAPP). Of these, 141 of them died on Saturday, March 27, to coincide with Myanmar Armed Forces Day.

Blinken said the Myanmar military regime's violence was despicable and followed an increasingly disturbing and even gruesome pattern of violence against demonstrators opposing military rule, including the killing of five-year-old children.

The United States condemned a February 1 coup that toppled the elected government. Washington has imposed several sanctions against individuals and entities linked to the Myanmar military regime. However, this was not enough to soften the regime's leaders.

Antony Blinken said other countries and companies around the world should consider significant investment in companies that support the Burmese military".

"They must look at this investment and reconsider, as a way of denying the military the financial support it needs to sustain itself against the will of the people", he said.

The United States, through the Treasury Department, imposed sanctions on two conglomerates linked to the Myanmar military regime last week to prevent US companies and individuals from dealing with them.

But some companies, including companies from regional US allies, such as Japan and South Korea, still have business ties with military-owned companies, according to activist groups.

Activists have also asked international energy companies such as US-based Chevron to withhold revenue from natural gas projects they operate in Myanmar from the government-controlled by the Myanmar military regime.

One of Myanmar's main armed ethnic groups warned of the growing threat of a major conflict since Tuesday and called for international intervention against the military crackdown.

Separately, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) decided to suspend all engagement with Myanmar under a 2013 trade and investment agreement, until a democratically elected government returns to power.

This was said by United States Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai on Monday 29 March. This decision was made inseparable from increasing the death toll of Myanmar military anti-coup protesters.

In his statement, Tai said the killings carried out by Myanmar security forces against peaceful protesters, students, workers and labor leaders, and children, have shocked the conscience of the international community.

"This act is a direct attack on the country's transition to democracy and the efforts of the Myanmar people to achieve a peaceful and prosperous future", said Tai, who was sworn in on March 18.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news surrounding the Myanmar military coup by tapping on this link.