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At least 18 protesters were killed in protests in Myanmar on Sunday by police gunfire, according to the UN human rights office, on the deadliest day of the protests against the coup.
The killings took place in several cities, including Yangon, Dawei and Mandalay, as police used live ammunition and tear gas.
Security forces began the violent crackdown on Saturday, after weeks of mostly peaceful protests against the army’s seizure of power.
The army seized control of the Asian country on February 1, claiming there was fraud in the November election, which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won in an overwhelming majority.
Images on social media on Sunday showed protesters fleeing as police charged, erecting makeshift barricades and taking several people covered in blood.
What happened on the ground?
The UN human rights office condemned the violence against protesters and said it had “credible information” that at least 18 people died on Sunday. More than 30 people were injured.
“The people of Myanmar have the right to assemble peacefully and demand the restoration of democracy,” said spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.
“The use of lethal force against non-violent protesters is never justified under international human rights standards.”
Activists and medical workers say at least four people were killed in the largest city, Yangon, when police fired bullets, stun grenades and tear gas.
The demonstrators remained provocative. “If they push us, we will get up. If they attack us, we will defend. We will never kneel in front of military boots,” Nyan Win Shein told Reuters.
“The police started shooting just as we arrived. They didn’t say a word of warning. Some were injured and some teachers are still hiding in neighbors’ houses,” AFP told AFP. another protester, Amy Kyaw.
Some protesters were caught in police vans.
The police also applied a heavy hand against a ga rally in Mandalay, where I used water cannons and gunfire.
The UN said deaths had also been reported in Myeik, Bago and Pokokku.
The number of arrests since the start of the protests has not been confirmed. The Association for the Assistance of Political Prisoners watch group estimated the figure at 850, but hundreds more were reportedly arrested over the weekend.
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