Myanmar's junta will face regional pressure Tuesday to end a deadly crackdown on anti-coup protesters, after some Southeast Asian powers broke diplomatic traditions and delivered unusually harsh rebukes.

Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional bloc will hold talks with a junta representative to discuss the crisis that began when the military detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The February 1 takeover ended Myanmar's brief experiment with democracy, triggering global condemnation, nationwide protests and an increasingly brutal crackdown by the security forces.

Violence on Sunday was the worst seen so far, with the United Nations saying at least 18 people were killed when troops and police fired on demonstrators in cities across Myanmar.

ASEAN, which brings together 10 countries including Myanmar, has long been criticised for inaction in the face of crises, with members typically sticking to the bloc's policy of non-interference in each others affairs.

But some of the bloc's most influential members have issued withering criticism of the military in recent days.

"We are appalled by the use of lethal force against civilians," Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told the city-state's parliament Monday.

"We call on the Myanmar military authorities to exercise utmost restraint," he added, while urging a "return to the path of democratic transition".

As Myanmar's biggest foreign investor, the prosperous city-state is seen has having some leverage over the generals.

Indonesia, the biggest country in the bloc, has also exerted pressure, calling for a restoration of democracy and sending its foreign minister to meet with the junta's foreign minister in Bangkok.

The online talks are due to start at 4:00 pm (0800 GMT), with one diplomat telling AFP the ministers will likely "ask the Myanmar military to stop the violence and attacks against the people".

"ASEAN will also ask the military to have a dialogue with all parties including with (Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But observers are sceptical about what difference the bloc can make -- pointing to its policies of non-interference and making decisions based on consensus.

Singapore has already said it does not see the need for broad sanctions on Myanmar for fear of hurting ordinary people.

Several ASEAN members, such as Thailand and Cambodia, have their own authoritarian governments and are likely to block any real action.

Oh Ei Sun, an analyst from the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, told AFP that nothing more than "strong language" could be expected from ASEAN.

Countries such as Thailand, Cambodia and Laos "have their own regime survival to worry about so I don't think they are too keen to advocate for intervention. And they wouldn't want similar intervention to fall upon them", he said.

Myanmar security forces fire on anti-coup protesters
Yangon (AFP) March 2, 2021 - Myanmar security forces fired live rounds and tear gas at protesters again on Tuesday, leaving at least three people critically injured as regional powers rebuked the junta over its deadly crackdown.

The country has seen weeks of mass protests demanding the military release civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been in detention since the February 1 coup.

Soldiers and police have steadily stepped up their use of force, deploying tear gas, water cannon, rubber bullets and, increasingly, live rounds.

Sunday was the bloodiest day since the military takeover, with the United Nations saying at least 18 protesters were killed across the country. AFP independently confirmed 11 deaths.

Another rally turned violent Tuesday in the northwestern town of Kale, where security forces opened fire on protesters, according to medics who witnessed events and treated those wounded.

"About 20 people were injured in a morning crackdown by police and soldiers in Kale," said a rescue worker, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions.

"Three... were hit by live rounds and are in a critical condition," he said.

Police had initially deployed tear gas and rubber bullets before doubling back with live rounds, he added.

A doctor who treated the patients in a local hospital confirmed the number of people in a critical condition.

"One was hit in his thigh and he's now under operation. Another one got hit in the abdomen and he requires blood transfusions... Another one got hit in the chest," he told AFP.

- 'No mercy, just bullies' -

The bloodshed came on the same day as a funeral in the commercial capital of Yangon for a student who died Sunday.

Mourners sang a revolutionary song as the coffin carrying Nyi Nyi Aung Htet Naing moved through a sea of thousands to an altar.

"No mercy, just bullies -- dead bodies are here and there," the mourners sang in unison as they flashed a three-finger salute that has become a symbol of opposition to the junta.

Protests also continued in several neighbourhoods of Yangon on Tuesday, with demonstrators wearing hard hats and wielding improvised home-made shields.

In San Chaung township hundreds of police came out in force.

"They used tear gas and were shooting as well," said one resident.

About 15 minutes away near the popular shopping area Yuzana Plaza, local media live-streamed protesters chanting as what appeared to be smoke from tear gas whizzed their way.

"We threw wet blankets to the protesters for them to cover the canisters to prevent the tear gas (from spreading)," said one resident living by the plaza, who added that she saw some demonstrators being detained.

More than 1,200 people have been arrested, charged and sentenced since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitoring group, of which about 900 are still behind bars.

But the number is likely far higher -- state-run media reported that on Sunday alone more than 1,300 people were arrested.

State-broadcaster MRTV said late Tuesday that 511 people in detention had been released in Yangon.

A Myanmar journalist was detained overnight in the southern city of Myeik -- the latest among the country's press to be targeted by security forces.

Reporters Without Borders says at least 10 journalists are in jail and 26 have been arrested since the coup.

- 'Not acceptable' -

The unrest came as foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc held a virtual meeting which included a Myanmar representative.

Some regional powers broke with diplomatic convention and issued unusually harsh rebukes of Myanmar's junta.

"To use lethal force against civilians and unarmed demonstrators, I think it is just not acceptable," Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the BBC.

After the meeting Indonesia's foreign minister Retno Marsudi expressed concern over rising violence and deaths as well as frustration over a lack of cooperation from the Myanmar regime.

"It takes two to tango," she said, calling for the restoration of democracy and the release of political detainees.

Philippines foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin said the first step should be the immediate release of Suu Kyi.

"The hurt of the small finger is felt by the whole body. Myanmar is not a small finger but a big part of the two hands that together make up the family of ASEAN 10," he said.

There was no ASEAN joint communique or statement released after the meeting because the foreign ministers could not reach a consensus.

But Brunei, which chaired the meeting, issued a statement saying ASEAN called on all parties to "refrain from instigating further violence".

Observers are sceptical about what difference the bloc can make, pointing to its policies of non-interference and making decisions based on consensus.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

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Myanmar police fire rubber bullets on protesters as UN envoy breaks ranks
Yangon (AFP) Feb 27, 2021
Myanmar police fired rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Yangon on Saturday, after the country's ambassador to the United Nations broke ranks to make an emotional plea for action against the military junta. The country has been shaken by a wave of protests since a coup toppled civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. Authorities have ramped up the use of force to suppress dissent, deploying tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse some protests. Live rounds have been use ... read more