Myanmar coup protests and police crackdown continue: protesters shot dead with rubber bullets

Burmese police fired rubber bullets at a group of people protesting peacefully at Mawlamyine University on Friday, in southeastern Mon state, reported to the news agency EFE a local NGO.

Some students received the impact of the projectiles, but none were seriously injuredsaid a worker at a Burmese non-profit organization.

The authorities also proceeded to arrest an unknown number of demonstrators.

The protests, which began spontaneously last Saturday, continue this Friday across the country to express the popular rejection of the military junta which seized power on February 1 in a bloodless coup.

The most numerous are registered with Yangon, the former capital and the most populous city, with concentrations at various points, including in front of the Chinese and Russian embassies.

Thousands of people calling for peaceful movement of civil disobedience ask Asian giant not to support Myanmar’s military government, who already ruled the country sternly between 1962 and 2011.

The protesters are also demanding the release of all those detained since the uprising, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate and democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Also recorded massive concentrations in opposition to the army in Naipyidó, the capital founded in 2005 by the uniforms, where the authorities were already using water cannons, bullets and even live ammunition to quell protests.

A woman is fighting for her life since Tuesday after being shot in the head by police during a demonstration in the capital.

In other parts of the country, as in Myitkyina, capital of the state of Kachin, or MonywaIn the Sagaing region, there were also large demonstrations.

At least 262 people were arrested by the authorities between the day of the uprising and Thursday afternoon, including 21 that have already been published, indicates the last update of the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP) which warns that the rate of arrests “increases”.

Concern over amnesty for 23,000 ordinary prisoners

The AAPP expressed its << Grave inquiétude >> concerning the amnesty, to commemorate the day of the Union of Burma, of more than 23,000 ordinary prisoners and noted that this movement serves to “make room for political prisoners”.

Suu kyi, of which no news has been received for several days, would supposedly remain under house arrest in Naipyidó and faces a charge of illegally importing telephones, punishable by up to 3 years in prison.

The military government, headed by General Min Aung Hlaing, justifies the seizure of power by a alleged electoral fraud in last November’s election in which the National League for Democracy, the party led by Suu Kyi, was swept aside, as it did in 2015.

(With information from EFE)

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

Myanmar’s military junta freed more than 23,000 prisoners

United States sanctioned Myanmar coup leader and nine other soldiers

Joe Biden announced sanctions against Myanmar military linked to coup