Myanmar protesters burn military’s constitution as UN envoy warns of ‘imminent bloodbath’

YANGON (REUTERS, AFP) - Myanmar activists burned copies of a military-framed Constitution on Thursday (April 1) two months after the junta seized power, as a United Nations special envoy warned of the risk of a bloodbath because of an intensified crackdown on anti-coup protesters.

The envoy's warning follows a flare-up in fighting between the army and ethnic minority insurgents in frontier regions.

At least 20 soldiers were killed and four military trucks destroyed in clashes with the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar's most powerful rebel groups, DVB news reported.

A KIA soldier cited by Kachin Liberation Media said the attack happened on Wednesday (March 31) afternoon.

Reuters could not immediately verify the reports and a junta spokesman did not answers calls seeking comment.

Myanmar military aircraft have started bombing positions of another group, the Karen National Union (KNU), for the first time in more than 20 years and thousands of villagers have fled from their homes, many into Thailand.

On Thursday, Thailand's foreign ministry said it was "gravely troubled" by casualties during weekend unrest in Myanmar and called for utmost restraint and an end to the violence.

In some of the strongest comments yet by Myanmar's neighbour, foreign ministry spokesman Tanee Sangrat told a news conference that Thailand called for a de-escalation of the situation, an end to violence and the further release of detainees. It was working with Southeast Asian countries for a peaceful solution, he added.

Myanmar has been rocked by almost daily protests since the army overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government on Feb 1 citing unsubstantiated claims of fraud in a November election.

Ms Suu Kyi and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) are being held in detention.

In cities across Myanmar there were further candle-lit protests overnight including in Myitnge in the Mandalay region, according to media and photographs on social media.

The junta has accused her of several minor crimes including illegally importing six handheld radios and breaching coronavirus protocols but a domestic media outlet reported on Wednesday she could be charged with treason, which can be punishable by death.

But one of her lawyers, Mr Min Min Soe, said no new charges were announced at a hearing in her case on Thursday. Her lawyers have said the charges she faces were trumped up.

Reuters could not confirm this, but the next hearing in her case is due later on Thursday.

Mr Min Min Soe said they held their first video conference since her arrest on Wednesday.

"Amay looks healthy, her complexion is good," Mr Min Min Soe said by telephone, using an affectionate term meaning "mother" to refer to her.

Ousted Members of Parliament, mostly from Suu Kyi's party, vowed to set up a federal democracy in a bid to address a long-standing demand from ethnic minority groups for autonomy.

The military rejects such proposals and sees itself as the only institution capable of holding the country together.

The lawmakers who have set up a parallel civilian government, the Committee for Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), also announced the abolishment of a 2008 constitution set up by the military that guarantees the army's influence.

"The new day begin here!" Dr Sasa, the international envoy of the CRPH, said on Twitter, referring to what for now is a largely symbolic move.

Social media posts showed copies of the constitution, or in some cases imitations, being burned at rallies and in homes during what one activist called a "constitution bonfire ceremony".

The UN special envoy on Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgene told the 15-member UN Security Council that the military was not capable of managing the country, and warned the situation on the ground would only worsen, according to comments shared with reporters.

The council must consider "potentially significant action"to reverse the course of events as "a bloodbath is imminent,"Schraner Burgener said.

The council's statements have so far expressed concern and condemned violence against protesters, but dropped language calling the takeover a coup and threatening possible further action due to opposition by China, Russia, India and Vietnam.

At least 538 civilians have been killed in protests, 141 of them on Saturday, the bloodiest day of the unrest, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

There were media reports of two more deaths on Thursday as protesters were back on the streets in several places.

One person was killed and five wounded when the security forces fired in the central town of Monywa, the Monywa Gazette reported.

Security forces also opened fire in the second largest city of Mandalay killing one person, media reported. Shots rang out and black smoke drifted over Myanmar's ancient royal capital.

The United States on Wednesday urged China, which it has significant economic and strategic interests in Myanmar, to use its influence to hold account those responsible for the military coup.

While Western countries have strongly condemned the coup, China has been more cautious and the government's top diplomat Wang Yi called for stability during a meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Vivian Balakrishnan on Wednesday.

"China welcomes and supports Asean's adherence to the principle of non-interference ... and the 'Asean approach' in playing a positive role in promoting the stability of the situation in Myanmar," China's foreign ministry said in a statement after the meeting, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In a sign of stepped-up shuttle diplomacy, the foreign ministers of Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are also due to meet Mr Wang Yi in China this week.

China's ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun said on Wednesday that China wanted a "democratic transition" in military-ruled Myanmar but ruled out sanctions.

"China hopes that Myanmar will restore peace, stability and constitutional order as early as possible and continue to steadily advance democratic transition," Zhang told a closed-door UN Security Council meeting, according to a statement.

"One-sided pressure and calling for sanctions or other coercive measures will only aggravate tension and confrontation and further complicate the situation, which is by no means constructive," he added.

Singapore's foreign ministry said the ministers "called for a de-escalation of the situation, a cessation of violence and the commencement of constructive dialogue among all sides".

Asean, of which Myanmar is a member, has a pledge not to interfere in each other's affairs, but led by Indonesia some countries have been actively pushing diplomatic efforts to defuse the crisis.

Still, the military has up to now appeared impervious to outside pressure.