Moscow to boost military cooperation with Naypyidaw
Russian Defence Minister Shoygu met with General Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar’s military junta. Russia, along with China, are Myanmar’s largest arms suppliers. Meanwhile, repression continues in the Asian country. A 30-year-old man arrested by the military was tortured to death in a village that supported the National League for Democracy.
Moscow (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Russia will boost military cooperation with Myanmar, despite the coup d'état of 1 February, this according to Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu.
Russia’s top defence official met in Moscow with General Min Aung Hlaing, head of Myanmar’s military junta, which seized power from the National League for Democracy (LND) and Aung San Suu Kyi.
Russia is already one of the Myanmar’s main arms suppliers. Its latest pronouncement comes just days after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, the first against the military junta, calling on member countries to stop the supply of weapons to Myanmar. Russia, along with China, abstained.
"We are determined to continue our efforts to strengthen bilateral ties based on the mutual understanding, respect and trust that have been established between our countries," RIA Novosti quoted Shoigu as saying at a meeting.
Meanwhile, the military crackdown in the Asia country continues unabated. A 30-year-old man who was arrested on Monday in Len Zin, a village in Monywa district, was tortured to death in military custody.
Troops came to the village and opened fire at random after a fire broke out at the village school around 9 pm on Monday, local residents reported.
After the fire was put out, at least three villagers were taken by soldiers. One of them died in detention; and yesterday, his family picked up the body, covered in bruises.
“Lel Zin is known for its NLD support,” said one villager. “During the campaign period [ahead of the 2020 general elections], we had a billboard erected at the entrance of the village saying the whole village would vote for the NLD. Perhaps they [the junta] were angry with that.”
Yesterday, in nearby Mandalay – Myanmar's second-largest city – three people were killed in clashes between the army and the People's Defence Force.
It was the first armed confrontation in the city since the February coup. Local witnesses report that the army has tightened controls in different parts of the city and last night many businesses remained closed for fear of further violence.
.png)
06/05/2021 13:46
11/03/2021 14:00
12/03/2021 14:51
