security council you know like the politics within the security council where whenever it comes to myanmar burma in particular like china and russia always always always always defend this military regime in the past and then i think that's are those the major problem that we're having with the world is the age of the i believe it is on the side of the people whereas the the ones who can take the actions are not so much this one that is feed you the military has this already infamous the government a lot why would they have a coupe what would they hope to achieve. i think that it really comes down to just being power hungry as i mentioned before . the only thing that i see them achieving is just the absolute lack of. flexibility the freedoms and just having things absolutely in their way and total control and the only other explanation which i hope is not true but is becoming closer to my my belief recently is that they are sadistic and that they enjoy seeing people suffering but i feel like that's just too depressing a little wants to think but that's how it feels and and certainly how it feels

and we want to turn now overseas because tonight the situation in myanmar, formerly known as burma, haseached a critical and dangerous phase. one month after the military coup, protests have grown enormous and deadly as the generals try to crush dissent. we get more from cbs' ramysh di. more from ramy inocencio in inocencio in beijing. >> reporter: tonightht, armed wh shields throwing bags of water, anti-coup protesters defied myanmar security forces on yayangon streetsts, not backinin afafter 18 peoplple were killela daday earlier. tear gas canisters hissed past dodging demonstrators, and people ran from police hundreds of hundreds of thousands of pro democracy protesters have been fighting for aung san suu kyi, now detained exactly one month. on monday, a court charged the nobel laureate with two new offenses including inciting public fear and alarm. her lawyer says all charges are trumped up. what do the military leaders want? >> to erase her from the political scene of the country. >> reporter: and her supporters are being killed. as funerals are held, more people are swearing to pu

myanmar border with thailand. this was the aftermath of the airstrikes. these were the first aerial attacks in the area in the last 20 years. footage was sent by the air group free burmah works inside myanmar. this is its spokesperson. >> many of these strengths were carried out at night which i a capability the army did not have before. this is a new capability. it was a hit at night in the valley, near the river which is north of papoon. the whole valley, 5000 people, is hiding. altogether, we have 12,000 people displaced. then the planes came and went along the thai-burm bordera, bargaining. >> this is what happened next. ethnic karan families went hiding. others take boats across the river into thailand. the reports are that injured people were aloud into thailand but most peopleere pushed back. we're are also told that those who could not cross the river were sent to a displacement camp on the myanmar side of the border. this footage appears to show tha i border guards putting up barriers to keep people away. the army was sending most burmese back as it deemed the situation at the border to be safe. thailand says it is respecting the human rights of refugees. let

myanmar�*s border with thailand. this was the aftermath of the air strikes. and these were the first aerial attacks in the area for 20 years. this footage was sent to us by aid group free burmaerson. many of the air were conducted at night, which is a capability they didn't have before. we have not seen in that districts, so this is a new capability. it was a hit at night and diwali, in northern karen state, on the whole valley is hiding now. altogether, we have 10,000 people in this place. then the planes came, and went along the border, forming karen, placesjust on and went along the border, forming karen, places just on the burma side of the border. this karen, places 'ust on the burma side of the border.— of the border. this is what happened next. ethnic karen families went into hiding — some of them even took shelter in caves. 0thers took boats across the salween river to thailand. reports suggest that injured people were allowed in — but that most people were pushed back. we're also told that those who couldn't cross the river were sent to a displacement camp on the myanmar side of the border. then there's this footage. it appears to show thai border guards putting up

burma. over 400 people have now died in myanmar since the military seized power last month.ted to fight back using home—made weapons. but they are no match against trained fighters and live rounds. the us has accused general min aung hlaing of presiding over a reign of terror. his regime has already been hit by some sanctions, but he still has powerful friends. russia's deputy defence minister was given a front row seat for yesterday's armed forces day. 0ther diplomats were also in the crowd, including from china. but 12 military leaders from around the world issued a rarejoint statement reminding the general that an army is supposed to protect its people... gunshot. ..not turn their guns on them. and yet the protests continue undeterred. the will of a defiant people determined to restore democracy has so far refused to bend, even under relentless fire. laura bicker, bbc news, bangkok. saturday also saw the burmese military carry out airstrikes against ethnic karen groups for the first time in 20 years. reports from ngos suggest 2,000 people were displaced by strikes against

said they cannot allow the violence to continue in myanmar which washington refers to as burma. what the military is doing in burma to the people to the people of burma the violence the attacks the killings of children they are appalling and and they are unacceptable so we can't just. step back and allow this to happen we have to keep pushing forward well during the meeting china called for a democratic transition in me in amman but ruled out sanctions is our diplomatic editor james baker. certainly you have some members of the security council russia china vietnam potentially who are not keen on any punitive action against the generals and if the security council doesn't take some further action if it just comes up with another statement it's not clear where that takes us because remember the security council has issued 2 statements. a return to democracy in myanmar urging the release of all the politicians who have been detained and condemning the violence and despite that the bloodshed has gone on individual countries obviously can pursue their own policies and many have done

. >>> let's turn overseas now to myanmar, formerly known as burma where sources tell abc news that police killed more than 100 protesters yesterday making that the bloodiest day since people there started hitting the streets to express outrage over morning.itary co.abs julia s on. >> reporter: good morning, danys meant to crole in prot citizens. thrng fang inteat murder. more than 100 people, including children are believed to have been killed after troops opened fire on protesters across the country, thought to be the bloodiest day since the coup last month. soldiers have been filmed shooting at unarmed civilians, beating them in the streets. people speaking to media have said they are being killed like chickens, even in our homes. now the bloodshed has been met with widespread condemnation. last night the secretary of state blinken said that he was horrified while the u.s. ambassador of myanmar accused the security forces of murdering unarmed civilians, including children. the very people they swore to protect. now this morning, the defense chiefs of a dozen countries including the u.s.

. >> what about myanmar, also known as burma, where there was a military coup last week. does the united states now face individual threats coming from burma? >> i'm not sure about burma, but i suspect the answer is the same. >> finally, is it true that north korea remains uncooperative in providing information about north korean internationals that might come to the united states? >> i have rarely heard north korea mentioned in terms of cooperativeness. >> syria, iran, burma, north korea were among the nations from which president biden lifted travel restrictions by executive order his first day in office without any plan in place. each of them represents a real threat to the united states. i want to turn to another kind of threat we face, which is crime and gang violence in particular. unfortunately, both drug trafficking and violent crime are now on the rise in the united states. are street gangs driving a significant part of violent crime on streets across america? >> well, certainly when i go around and i've talked to state and local law enforcement in all 50 states,

. >> what about myanmar, also known as burma, where there's a military coup last week. is it true that the united states now faces serious obstacles to vet individuals coming from burma? >> i'm not sure i know the answer on burma, but i suspect the answer is the same. >> and finally, in this, what about north korea? is it true that north korea remains uncooperative in providing us information about north korean nationals that might try to come to the united states? >> i have rarely heard north korea come up in the context of cooperativeness. >> thank you. i just want to note before we close on this topic that all of those nations -- syria, iran, libya, burma, north korea -- were among the nations from which president biden lifted travel restrictions by executive order on his first day in office without any plan in place to improve security for these travels. another kind of threat we face is crime and gang violence in particular. unfortunately, drug trafficking and violent crime are on the rise in the united states. are street gangs driving a significant part of violent

burma is also known as myanmar. military leaders changed the name to myanmar in 1989 after brutally suppressing a pro-democracy uprising. for more, we are joined by aron aung, from rangoon, former capital of burma, now called yangon. he came to the u.s. to attend college and is a senior at the new york institute of technology. his recent piece for manhattan globe is headlined, "misogyny silenced, feminism amplified." welcome to democracy now! it is great to have you with us. first of all, i want to say you are incredibly brave to come on this broadcast, to show your face, and i'm wondering if you can talk about what is happening in your home country, talk about your family, and why you have chosen to do this first broadcast interview of your life. >> as we all know, the military took over, the coup in my country, and since then, it has been almost over two months now. so many people have died so far. the number is just an estimate, and a seven-year-old girl is one of the youngest victims. a five-year-old boy recentl

campaign for burma, and the executive director of the myanmar institute of security, and the foundingof the special advisory council for myanmar, and the u.n. special reporter -- special rapporteur. how many people up and coming out into the streets of myanmar despite the violence? the movement seems to be growing. >> i am surprised that the continuing number of people showing up on the streets. i have to say, i strongly am respectful of all those people who are sacrificing their livelihoods and their lives to come out and voice their voice, that we will not live under the military junta. anchor: what happens next? from your perspective, is the military only going to resort to more violence in coming days and weeks and months? >> is very likely. what we have seen is the major movement of troops from february 26. so that is assigned the regime is reinforcing its security apparatus in many cities to initiate the crackdown. we first saw the first day of the crackdown nationwide february 28, and the following days. but so far, the last two days were for to quiet, even though we have -- la

reporter: lastly on burma and myanmar. sanctions on myanmar, because we keep seeing these bloody crackdowns. are you coordinating with allies to look at more action? jen: we are absolutely. we put out a statement yesterday from national security advisor jake sullivan. let me reiterate a couple of the pieces from that that we remain alarmed by the burmese security forces violence against peaceful protesters, the killings represent an escalation of the ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy protesters since the february 1 coup. we're preparing additional actions on this latest outbreak of violence and the coup. we expect to share more in the coming days. go ahead. reporter: back to saudi arabia. during the campaign, obviously, former vice president joe biden was well aware of the history of the u.s. government in terms of who they sanctioned and who they haven't. yet he said, we'll make them pay the price and make them the pariah as they are. how does this come anywhere close to his pledge to americans in november of 2019 at tha

burma the u.n. special envoy in myanmar says she is shocked by wednesday's violence diplomatic editor james bays reports from the united nations. the u.n. envoy christine shriner bergan a spoke to reporters just 2 days before she's due to brief the u.n. security council she said the international community needed to send a clear message to the military because the situation is getting worse by the day to day tossed a block a state who happened on the 1st of february. we had to gain only 2 days starting at 8. and we have now morgan or 50 people that had started and many are while. she said she'd last spoke into the military to the deputy commander on the 15th of february she told him there were likely to be harsh international measures including sanctions he replied that they'd had sanctions before and had survived them she told him his country was likely to be isolated internationally he replied we'll have to learn to march with only a few friends she was also asked by reporters why she thought the military had staged a coup at this stage on the 1st of february she said the commander in chief is due to

burma. also known as myanmar. new york's 22nd district is home to more than 4,000 burmese refugees and new burmese american citizens. they've been coming to our region for over 20 years. they're demanding action and a return to civilian rule in burma. i stand with them and all of my colleagues in condemning the atrocious human rights abuses that are taking place at the hands of the military coup last month. i'm honored to be an original co-sponsor on both of these bills on burma as a member of the foreign affairs committee where they received strong bipartisan support. though these bills will not solve the problem in burma, this will be done through a continued pressure. this will provide continued pressure on the military and a strong unified international condemnation will add to that. however, these bills are a very important step in the right direction. the burmese refugees and american citizens i represent in new york's 22nd district remain resolute in support of their friends and families who are suffering t

don't think you need one, to reprogram the $134 million that we appropriated to the government of burma myanmar. clearly that needs to be changed especially not just for democracy but for the rohingya. now believe it or not a question. we're not in compliance with the jcpoa. iran isn't in compliance with the jcpoa. the iranian position is that we should make concessions to them just to get a meeting. it's my understanding our position is that we should come into compliance only as they or after they come into compliance with the nuclear safeguards. can you assure us we're not going to make concessions just to get a meeting? >> i can. >> that's a very good answer. and do we expect that before we give them sanctions relief that they will verifiably either be in full compliance with the jcpoa or be on a negotiated path toward full compliance? >> yes. >> those are such spectacular answers i'm going to shock my colleagues and yield back. >> anyone who would like to ask a question or make a comment would be able to do so. so i'll stay as long. >> thank you for that, mr. secretary. i now yield five mi

burma. over 400 people have now died in myanmar since the military seized power last month.ighters and live rounds. the us has accused general min aung hlaing of presiding over a reign of terror. his regime has already been hit by some sanctions, but he still has powerful friends. russia's deputy defence minister was given a front row seat for yesterday's armed forces day. 0ther diplomats were also in the crowd, including from china. but 12 military leaders from around the world issued a rarejoint statement reminding the general that an army is supposed to protect its people. gunshot. not turn their guns on them. and yet the protests continue undeterred. the will of a defiant people determined to restore democracy has so far refused to bend, even under relentless fire. laura bicker, bbc news, bangkok. an american education professor with family in yangon has been tweeting about her family's experience. she said:. "i woke up in the middle of the night and saw dr betina hsieh spoke to me earlier about her sister's message. the tweet that i wrote was really after receiving a me

and the military was twrong under estimate the courage and resistance by the people of burma that so far myanmar has not thought that the international response has been week. my country is now controlled by battle hardened soldiers. statements alone are not enough. of course we're realistic and we know that international action alone cannot free our country. we will win our own freedom, but international action has an important role to play. i want to thank the u.s. for being the first to act against coupe freezing government reserves. you have been the forefront of supporting human rights and democracy in our country and i'm really grateful for that. there is much more that the u.s. can and must do. we must impose sanctions on military companies. now that military control the government, going from oil and gasoline need to be stopped. please work with allies like the uk and the eu to coordinate these targeted sanctions. most countries in the world don't. please work with allies to build a global coalition of countries imposing arms embargoes. in my original statement i listed more steps that c

in the violence myanmar has been in turmoil since the army ousted elected leader aung san suu kyi detaining her and reimposing military will. and tintin yo is managing director of burma news international joining us now from bangkok what have you been hearing about the situation on the ground in myanmar right now. the situation in myanmar is getting worse because like at the military coup increase their crackdown against the peaceful protest or by using different kind so what forms deadly weapons and now you have spent they have killed like i'm paragraph 50 people and this is only like i be the case that we can document there will be many other like at his ass at death that we cannot document yet so not only lanka. you know cracking down it is the peaceful protest but also they have bernie like i have people properties and a house says and also like at their increased search and also attack on the media person become more intense like i just 2 days ago to meet after 2 media reporters a rest at the apis and you know so that is not so good to what they were sent there really restrict like and you know people have to report and also do the news coverage at the same time

burma. over 400 people have now died in myanmar since the military seized power last month.ve rounds. the us has accused the general of presiding over a reign of terror. his regime has already been hit by some sanctions but he still has powerful friends. hit by some sanctions but he still has powerfulfriends. russia's deputy defence minister was given a front row seat for yesterday's armed forces day. other diplomats were also in the crowd including from china. but 12 military leaders from around the world issued a rare joint statement reminding the general that an army is supposed to protect its people. not turning their guns on them. and yet the protests continue undeterred. the well of a defined people determined to restore democracy has so far refused to bend, even under relentless fire. a second mp has defected from the snp to join the new pro—independence party launched by the former scottish first minister, alex salmond. neale hanvey, who represents kirkcaldy and cowdenbeath at westminster, follows the formerjustice secretary kenny macaskill, who announced yesterday h

myanmar. let's speak to chore win — founder and executive director of burma human rights network.us live from london. good evening, thanks for being with us. what are you hearing about what is happening on the ground in yangon? is happening on the ground in yanuon? ., is happening on the ground in yanuon? . ., is happening on the ground in yamon? ., ., ., is happening on the ground in yanuon? . ., . ., yangon? thanks for having me today. i am hearing — yangon? thanks for having me today. i am hearing that _ yangon? thanks for having me today. i am hearing that several _ yangon? thanks for having me today. i am hearing that several dozens - i am hearing that several dozens have been killed and there are many parts of burma, and as you heard about the factory has been burned down so our team has reached out on the ground. what we've learned as it was burned down by the military and police not by the protesters because the protesters told us that they are living next to the factory, how could they burn down the factory and risk their house being burned down? it is a senseless and bas

derek mitchell was the us ambassador to myanmar from 2012 to 2016 — america's first ambassador to the former state of burma. thank you so much forjoining us here on bbc news. there have been many very strongly worded statements from international diplomats, foreign ministers, do you think they will have any impact on the generals?— will have any impact on the uenerals? ., ., ., ., ., _ generals? not a whole lot, honestly. i mean, generals? not a whole lot, honestly. i mean. it's — generals? not a whole lot, honestly. i mean, it's necessary _ generals? not a whole lot, honestly. i mean, it's necessary to _ generals? not a whole lot, honestly. i mean, it's necessary to show - generals? not a whole lot, honestly. i mean, it's necessary to show the i i mean, it's necessary to show the international community is watching. we are not ignoring these horrible images that are coming out, and in solidarity of it, people around the world that they have for the people on the ground, they need to hear that., clearly, that is not going to be enough to get the military to recalculate the path that it's on which is truly

don't think you need one, to reprogram the $134 million that we appropriated to the government of burma myanmar. clearly that needs to be changed especially not just for democracy but for the rohingya. now believe it or not a question. we're not in compliance with the jcpoa. iran isn't in compliance with the jcpoa. the iranian position is that we should make concessions to them just to get a meeting. it's my understanding our position is that we should come into compliance only as they or after they come into compliance with the nuclear safeguards. can you assure us we're not going to make concessions just to get a meeting? >> i can. >> that's a very good answer. and do we expect that before we give them sanctions relief that they will verifiably either be in full compliance with the jcpoa or be on a negotiated path toward full compliance? >> yes. >> those are such spectacular answers i'm going to shock my colleagues and yield back. >> anyone who would like to ask a question or make a comment would be able to do so. so i'll stay as long. >> thank you for that, mr. secretary. i now yield five mi

humility tintin you know managing director of burma news international talking to us from bangkok thank you very much. and you . being an activist in myanmar is becoming increasingly dangerous d.w. spoke to one of the activists there is risking arrest and her life fighting for freedom from military rule. united in resistance a vast range of demonstrators and helping them organize is activists fins are among her work puts her at risk of arrest we caught up with her at an undisclosed location. she says even if we are afraid we must fight. it's anger against the military she says that is helping people put aside their differences and protest. being in egypt and now she there is no army in this country at the moment which defends stability and peace of citizens garnisheed there are only terrorists who destroy stability and peace of citizens and commit murders. the demonstrators want an end to military rule but a says a return to the democracy myanmar knew before the february coup is not enough. minority there's a lack of acceptance for the equality of all ethnic people and autonomy. the neglect of the rights of ethnic minorities and the lack o

burma. over 400 people have now died in myanmar since the military seized power last month.deputy defence minister was given a front row seat for yesterday�*s armed forces day. 0ther diplomats were also in the crowd, including from china. but 12 military leaders from around the world issued a rare joint statement reminding the general that an army is supposed to protect its people. gunshot. not turn their guns on them. and yet the protests continue undeterred. the will of a defiant people determined to restore democracy has so far refused to bend, even under relentless fire. laura bicker, bbc news, bangkok. here, parents at batley grammar school in west yorkshire have called for calm to allow an incident where a teacher showed pupils a cartoon of the prophet muhammad to be properly investigated. there were angry protests outside the school on thursday and a further protest on friday. the school has suspended the teacher and started an investigation, but parents including some of muslim pupils say the protests and threats against the school are unhelpful. any and all such thr

young managing director of the burma news international media group she's joining us from thailand good to have you won t. w. how dangerous would you describe reporting in myanmar right now. right now and it's like s.s. to information is one of the most risky and dangerous situation. for the media reporters this times when. everyone in dangerous and that there and that's media can brockport the crisis around the country and many of them are already arrested and many more are stepped back at it even now we just got the news from the new man now that you know 22 more reporters arrest yet when it's from the missing map b.d.'s group which is one of our b.m.i. members and i was another one is from b.b.c. so the they were arrested and in need you know so that i am using my is one of the media independent media that was then. publishing rights by the by the state coup so since it is like i very much to get into all of the media groups those would be by the vices of the people and those are doing a lot the last remains of the crackdown and most christians so it is very very dangerous situation it's a dangerous situation we should say that one of your own member organiz

forces abhorrent violence against the people of burma and will continue to promote accountability for those responsible. michael, state media in myanmar is publishing a very different account of what's taking place. describing the security forces as cracking down against rioters. michael. >> all right. thanks, very much, ivan watson there, in hong kong. appreciate it. >>> pro-democracy protests in thailand, also, growing more violent. we saw deadly clashes in bangkok, sunday. a local medical center says a police captain was killed. at least 16 people, injured. police using tear gas and water canon on protestors who were marching towards a military base. this is the latest in thailand's growing pro-democracy movement. and the protests around it, for months now. young protestors have been calling for the prime minister's resignation, and reforms for the monarchy. public criticism of the key is illegal in thai law. >>> another pro-democracy movement in asia facing it a tough test as dozens of hong kong activists are charged under a strict, new law. we'll have a live report on what is at stake, coming up. >>> also, americans are beginning

here is the founder and coordinator of old zeon burma and network of organizations and individuals working to support human rights and democracy in myanmar she joins us now from bangkok many thanks for speaking to us let's start with some of these comments made by the military this morning specifically when he expressed regret the loss of lives in the protests how do you interpret it is it a sign that maybe the military's regretting their campaign against protesters. it's a sign that despite paying a lot of b.s. millions of dollars to push back on sanctions and to sell their illegal and the illegal coup they have it hasn't worked they are feeling the pressure they are feeling the pressure from the from the international community and they are trying to step back in and pretend that these killings of young people in the streets of the country the turning of a place near entire neighborhoods in yangon and other cities into urban war zones is something that is x. a dental this was an intentional crime against humanity in order to take control of the country and we still cannot. despite all the charges though they might try the book they mig

myanmar are on their own. fighting an army which rarely counts the human cost of its heavy—handed repression. jonathan head, bbc news. let's speak to chore win — founder and executive director of burmae from london. what are you hoping to see? the european security council shown they are not good at doing anything because the china and russia situation remains that we can do nothing can be done about burma and we are sceptical about the outcome but one thing we are encouraged about is that the burmese representation will remain, so this is a good thing and for international relations,, we are able to present and remain in contact with the un, than thatis in contact with the un, than that is very encouraging as an outcome. that is very encouraging as an outcome-— outcome. what in practical terms do _ outcome. what in practical terms do you _ outcome. what in practical terms do you want - outcome. what in practical terms do you want to i outcome. what in practicali terms do you want to see? mafileo you see, lewis, it is a faceless military and until today they have been using the same tactics, kill all, today they have been using the same tactics, killall, bernal, finish all, and that

myanmar are on their own. fighting an army which rarely counts the human cost of its heavy—handed repression. jonathan head, bbc news. earlier i spoke to chore win — founder and executive director of burma asked him what the international community needs to do. you see that the un secretary council has proved that they are good at not doing anything because of with china and russia, they have to make sure that nothing can be done. regarding burma, so we are very sceptical about the outcome but one thing we are very encouraged by is that the burmese representative will remain, so and for international relations, the sea pr age will remain in contact in the un and that's a good outcome.— contact in the un and that's a good outcome. and in practical terms, good outcome. and in practical terms. what — good outcome. and in practical terms, what you _ good outcome. and in practical terms, what you want - good outcome. and in practical terms, what you want to - good outcome. and in practical terms, what you want to see? | good outcome. and in practical. terms, what you want to see? in this faceless military, it is the worst since world war ii, and until today they use the same tactic, kill all

myanmar. it makes it the deadliest day since last month take over that reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule and burmandonesia at least 20 people were injured after two bombers attacked a palm sunday mass and believed to be members of a militant group and it set off a bomb outside a packed roman catholic cathedral. that was the moment when the explosive went off in the camera was covered with smoke and all the victims are being treated in a hospital. one of the attackers was also linked to an attack on a church in the philippines back in 2019. >>> other celebrations were peaceful and in jerusalem the faithful gathered to mark the beginning of the holy week preceding easter and in the philippines dozens of catholic worshipers waived palm branches outside of st. peter's parish in manila and according to the bible that is how crowds greeted jesus the day he returned to jerusalem before his crucifixion. >>> pope francis celebrated a small mass inside of st. peter's basilica and this is the second year in a row he has been forced to forgo the traditional ceremony that typically draws huge crowds to the squ

burma treat ta. >> reporter: in 1947, the b burmese government -- >> they were always sort of outside, and they started fighting against the newly formed government, even then. >> reporter: priscilla clap says the myanmar military came to rule the country for decades by keeping ethnic armed groups apart and pitting them against each other. >> the country is very heavily armed. it is awash in armed groups. and if they are all operating separately, the milthemilitary has beenble to keep them more or less under control. but that may be changing. >> reporter: across th country, young protestors opposed to the coup are targeted for death. soldiers are beaten and shooting people in the street. this last saturday was the deadliest day since the coup. often the victims are children. 13-year-old siway young was killed by a single bullet to the head. [yelling] >> reporter: his family filled his funeral with a song of revolution, there and burmese anger has fueled widespread anger almost every day for two months. some fightith home made weapons. others are armed with disobedience. the civil disobedience movement has broad tens of thousands of government employees in the streets to grind the country to a halt. and