The putschists opened fire and killed three people in My …

Three protesters were killed in Myanmar on Monday, where banks, shops and factories closed following calls by unions to step up strike action to stifle the economy and put pressure on the military junta. Civil servants, farmers and private sector workers participated alongside activists in pro-democracy rallies across the country. The demonstrations that challenge the violence of the security forces on a daily basis already leave a sad toll of at least 50 dead since the February 1 coup.

Stores, banks and factories in Rangoon, the country’s largest city, closed on Monday after the call for a general strike by 18 unions because “Conducting business as usual and delaying a general strike will only benefit the military who repress the people of Myanmar”.

The civil disobedience movement, initially led by health workers, began days after the military uprising and has since spread to all sectors. “Burmese workers are ready to act to protect democracy and save future generations from dictatorship.”, highlights the call of the unions, before the expressly asks “to stop the economy completely”.

In the central Myitkyina region, several explosions were heard and protesters covered in blood were driven from the shooting area, according to images posted on social media. Catholic nun, dressed in a white coat, knelt in the middle of the street and begged the police not to shoot.

In Myitkyina, two people were shot dead by police outside a Catholic church on Monday. Meanwhile, in the town of Pyapon, about 100 kilometers south of Rangoon, a 30-year-old man was shot in the stomach and died, according to a witness. In addition, two demonstrators were shot and wounded.

In parallel, security forces attacked Myanmar Now media headquarters and took computers, data servers and a printer, denounced its editor, Swe Win. “We are the first newsroom attacked by the regime. We work in fear, but the storming into our office confirms that the board will not tolerate reports of their crimes at all, ”he said.

On Monday, ethnic minorities joined the protests. Near the southern town of Dawei, hundreds of Karen members demonstrated, waving their blue, white and red flags and calling for “an end to dictatorship.” The procession was escorted by rebels from the Karen National Union (KNU) armed faction, which mobilized to protect the protesters against possible repression by the security forces.

In addition, thousands of women participated in the marches for International Women’s Day. “This peaceful protest movement, along with the civil disobedience movement, has seen women take on various leadership roles and the number of demonstrators is estimated at 60% of the total“Five feminist associations pointed out in a statement.

At least six women have died in the brutal police and military crackdown, while “many others have been arbitrarily detained and are at high risk of violence, harassment and sexual assault. with limited or no access to legal protection, ”noted the letter, which recalls the history of sexual violence by Burmese soldiers.

Far from taking a step back, the military junta has warned officials that those who do not return to work in the coming days will be sacked. Security forces deployed to various neighborhoods in Rangoon on Sunday evening and occupied several public hospitals in the economic capital.. The NGO Doctors for Human Rights condemned the occupation of the hospital, saying it was “shocked by this new wave of violence”.

On Saturday evening, the raids targeted officials of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Aung San Suu Kyi, detained since February 1. Several were arrested and a local representative of the movement, Khin Maung Latt, was beaten to death.

The deputies who do not recognize the legitimacy of the coup and have created a committee to represent the civilian government are guilty of “high treason”, a crime punishable by death or 22 years in prison, warn the military.

At least 50 protesters have died and hundreds more have been arrested since the coup that overthrew the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. State media deny that the police and the military were involved in the deaths of civilians, saying they “must contain the riots according to the law”.

The army, for its part, justifies the seizure of power by an alleged electoral fraud in the November elections, where international observers did not detect any cheating, in which the National League for Democracy, the party led by Suu Kyi , swept away.

Faced with the fragile situation of the country, the Burmese are fleeing. About fifty, including eight police officers who refused to participate in the crackdown, arrived in neighboring India, where dozens of people are crowded at the border.