US Ambassador Thomas Vajda spoke to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces Vice Senior General Soe Win on March 5 to urge the immediate cessation of all violence against demonstrators, which has already left dozens dead.

In the phone call, Ambassador Vajda called for the immediate release of all detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi and other National League for Democracy leaders, a stop to further arrests, ending communications blackouts, and the restoration of the democratically elected government.

Ambassador Vajda underscored the widespread domestic opposition to the military’s actions as well as the economic damage and international isolation caused by the coup. He urged the military to reverse course.