The Nepali Congress said Sunday that Myanmar military’s crackdown on democracy protests is inhumane and condemnable and called on political parties, all organisations and the government of Nepal to show solidarity with the people of Myanmar.

Issuing a statement, the Congress party called for immediate stop to violence on democracy protesters, restoring the democratically elected government, freeing democracy leader Aung Saan Suu Kyi and others and helping create pressure against the military rule.

The statement comes a day after the South East Asian country saw more than 100 people killed in one of the bloodiest days of protests since the military coup on February 1.

Ever since the Myanmar military seized power, it has launched brutal crackdowns on democracy protesters. More than 400 people have now been killed.

According to a Reuters report, the deaths on Saturday took the number of civilians reported killed since the coup to over 440.

Also on Sunday, a group of citizens also called upon the government of Nepal to stand up for democratic values and on the side of the people of Myanmar.

“The government must help organise a deliberate and integrated international response to force the junta that is led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to immediately reverse its takeover and abide by the results of the November 2020 elections,” read a joint statement issued by 12 personalities from different fields. “We are proud of the Myanmar people’s valorous stand for democracy, appalled by the murderous suppression by the Tatmadaw military, and distressed by the lack of adequate response from the governments of South Asia and globally.”

The statement is undersigned by Bipin Adhikari, Renu Adhikari, Rem Bishowkarma, Dambar Chemjong, Rajendra Dahal, Kul Chandra Gautam, Jay Prakash Gupta, Dr Arjun Karki, Rameshore Khanal, Dr Mahesh Maskey and Sushil Pyakurel and Kanak Mani Dixit.

“We are shocked that the diplomats of several countries attended the Armed Forces Day ceremony even as the military has gone berserk massacring peaceful protestors,” added the statement.

Early on Saturday, the day that saw the country’s military shoot dead over 100 civilians, Myanmar’s army held a parade for Armed Forces Day and heard a speech from the coup leader Min Aung Hlaing.

According to the BBC, the general said he wanted to "safeguard democracy" but also warned against "violent acts".

Representatives of Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand attended the parade, the BBC reported.

The Nepal citizens’ group in the statement said they demand a coordinated international campaign to restore constitutional order, and to isolate and penalise Myanmar’s armed forces as well as individual military officers.

The killing by the military on Monday on Myanmar “day of shame” has drawn outrage from across the world and calls have been growing from a stronger global response.

Nepal, however, has not spoken on Myanmar ever since it first issued a statement on the evening of February 1, the day the military staged the coup.

“We have been closely following the developments in Myanmar,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on the evening of February 1. “We believe that all parties involved will respect the will of the Myanmar people and hope that the democratic and constitutional process will be restored soon.”

Diplomats and experts had told the Post that Nepal’s response was not up to the mark and that it had failed to stand up for democratic values while reacting to military coup in Myanmar.

“We request that the UN Human Rights Council, in coordination with the various Special Rapporteurs, begin work on a chargesheet against all those involved in crimes against humanity in Myanmar,” added the statement on Sunday from the citizens’ group.

Nepal itself is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, for a second 2021-2023 term.

“The dire situation in Myanmar merits strong action by the UN Security Council, invoking the principle of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ approved by the summit of world leaders at the UN General Assembly in 2005,” reads the statement by the citizens’ group. “We urge the world community to play its role in helping remove all authority given to the Tatmadaw by the Constitution of 2008 in the hope of peace and gradual transition, which it has misused continuously against the interests of the people of Myanmar.”