Britain Urges Citizens To Exit Myanmar Amidst ‘Rising Violence'

The British government, on Friday, March 12, urged its citizens who are currently in Myanmar to leave the country or at least stay at home if they can't leave the country, amidst a military coup against its ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, saying violence was rising.

The foreign ministry, in a statement, said that British nationals were advised by the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) to exit the country by commercial means unless there is a need for them to stay.

"Political tension and unrest are widespread since the military takeover and levels of violence are rising," said the Foreign Ministry.

The urge came after security forces allegedly killed 12 protesters, according to the rights group, and as Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyer said that new bribery allegations are thrown against the deposed leader.

It can be remembered that on the first day of February, news broke around the world that the government's power had been handed to the military's commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing after the deposed leaders Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and the other leaders from the National League for Democracy (NLD) were arrested for alleged cheating during the elections, in a report from the army's TV station.

The military since took control of Myanmar and reports of alleged violence and human rights violation has been circulating worldwide.

On Thursday, around nine protesters were killed in different parts of Myanmar, including in the country's central Myaing township where six were reported killed.

On the same day, a rights group called Amnesty International had released a major report on the said crisis accusing the junta of carrying premeditated killings and using battlefield weapons against the unarmed protesters.

Britain has called for a restoration of democracy in Myanmar and condemned the rising violence in the country, where they also now seek additional sanctions on the country.