Close to becoming a failed state

You are being watched: Police officers patrolling in a truck in downtown Yangon. — AFP

THE United Nations special envoy for Myanmar has warned that February’s military takeover has led to armed conflict and if power is not returned to the people in a democratic way, the country “will go in the direction of a failed state”.Christine Schraner Burgener told a UN news conference on Thursday that conflict between the military, which took power on Feb 1, and civilians and ethnic minorities was intensifying across the country.

“The military’s repression has led to over 1,180 deaths,” she said.