New protests in Myanmar after bloodiest day of repression since military coup

The Burmese took to the streets this Sunday to protest against the military junta, in the aftermath of the death of at least 90 civilians, including children, in the bloodiest wave of repression since the February 1 coup.

Protesters defied the uniforms in towns such as Rangoon, Monywa, Myinchan and Hapakant, located in different regions and states of the country, according to local media and activist groups such as Myanmar Spring Revolution on social media.

In Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, at least two people were injured by a grenade allegedly thrown by security forces, Myanmar Spring Revolution noted. In addition to the protests, many Burmese are in mourning after the crackdown the day before with scenes of shootings and torture that were captured in photos and video.

Last night, soldiers shot dead a 40-year-old man in the town of Aungmyaythazan, Mandalay region, and threw him into burning barricades, where he died of the blaze, witnesses said. from Myanmar Now. Due to the shooting of the soldiers, no neighbor was able to come to the aid of the victim, Aye Ko, married and father of four children.

The putschist military junta has shut down the media and persecutes journalists, so coverage of protests and repression depends on journalists who live in hiding and witnesses who record and photograph what is happening in the streets with their cellphones.

The Burmese Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP) last night quantified the death toll at 90, including six minors aged 10 to 16, while specifying that the total number of deaths since the coup s ‘s already at 423.

Myanmar Now brought the death toll to at least 116 during the day on Saturday, in which soldiers were killed in the streets as the capital hosted a military parade and then a gala dinner for the Armed forces day. Most countries boycotted the celebration, but Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand sent representatives to the events, according to Asia Nikkei.

International condemnation

Military leaders from a dozen countries, including the United States, Britain, Japan, South Korea and Germany, have condemned the murderous use of force against unarmed protesters.

“A professional serviceman follows international standards of conduct and is responsible for protecting – not harming – the people he serves,” they say, before “urging” the Burmese armed forces to “stop the violence and work to restore their respect and credibility towards the people of Burma ”.

Funerals for some of the victims took place on Sunday.

The army seized power under the pretext of alleged electoral fraud in last November’s elections, in which the party of ousted leader and nobel peacekeeper, Aung San Suu Kyi, was destroyed and declared legitimate by observers international.

Since the coup, the military junta has detained more than 3,000 people, including Suu Kyi and much of his government, most of whom are held incommunicado.

(With information from EFE and AFP)

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