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At least two people were killed and several injured in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, when security forces opened fire to disperse people protesting the country’s military coup, according to emergency services workers and other witnesses.
Sunday’s deaths marked the bloodiest day in more than two weeks of large demonstrations against the February 1 military takeover, which deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Military authorities have responded with increasing strength to the protests, deploying troops against peaceful demonstrations and firing tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets, with isolated live ammunition incidents.
In Mandalay, a raid on a shipyard turned violent on Saturday when security forces opened fire on protesters trying to stop the arrest of workers participating in the growing anti-coup movement. The confrontation began with the protesters throwing stones, but the authorities responded by opening fire, causing them to flee in fear.
“Two people died,” said Hlaing Min Oo, head of a Mandalay-based volunteer emergency rescue team, adding that one of the victims, who was shot in the head, was a teenager.
The death toll was confirmed by another emergency worker at the scene, who declined to be identified for fear of repercussions. “A minor under 18 was shot in the head,” the worker told the AFP news agency.
A soldier (C) carries a sniper rifle during a demonstration against the coup in Mandalay [AFP]
An injured man inside an ambulance after police fired rubber bullets during a protest against the military coup in Mandalay [Reuters]
In addition to the deaths, which were also reported by local media, Ko Aung, head of the volunteer emergency services agency Parahita Darhi, told Reuters news agency that 20 people were injured. At least five people were injured by rubber bullets and had to be transported by ambulances, according to a reporter from the Associated Press news agency who witnessed the violence.
Local media reported that more than a dozen people were arrested after the clash.
“They beat and shot my husband and other people,” a resident told AFP through tears. “He was standing to the side and watching the protest, but the soldiers took him away.”
I strongly condemn the violence carried out by the military against peaceful civilian protesters. I urge the military and all security forces to #Myanmar to immediately stop violence against civilians.
We will discuss on Monday #DO the latest developments in Myanmar to make appropriate decisions– José Borrell (@JosepBorrellF) February 20, 2021
Later on Saturday, the European Union’s foreign policy chief condemned the violence and said the bloc “will make the right decisions.”
“I strongly condemn the violence carried out by the army against peaceful civilian protesters. I urge the military and all security forces in Myanmar to immediately stop the violence against civilians, ”Josep Borrell, EU High Representative and Vice President, tweeted.
He said a meeting in Brussels of EU foreign ministers on Monday “will discuss … the latest events in Myanmar to make appropriate decisions.”
The reports said the next meeting was expected to move towards sanctioning Myanmar’s military officers. Several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have already announced these types of measures.
Protesters hold bullet cartridges and ammunition like slingshots after security forces fired at protesters in a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay on February 20, 2021. [Stringer/AFP]Tribute to the first protester killed
Also on Saturday, protesters in Myanmar’s two largest cities paid tribute to a young woman who died a day earlier after being shot by police during a demonstration against the coup.
A makeshift memorial created under a causeway in Yangon’s largest city drew about 1,000 protesters. A bright yellow wreath was hung below a photograph of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine, who was shot in the capital Naypyidaw on February 9, two days before her 20th birthday.
His death on Friday, announced by his family, was the first confirmed death among tens of thousands of protesters who have clashed with the security forces since senior military commander Min Aung Hlaing assumed power in the coup.
Protesters at the monument chanted and held up signs reading “End the dictatorship in Myanmar” and “You will be remembered Mya Thwet Thwet Khine.” Supporters also placed roses and rose petals on the images of the woman.
The video of the day he was shot shows taking cover from a water cannon and suddenly falling to the ground after a bullet penetrated the motorcycle helmet he was wearing. He had been on life support in the hospital for more than a week with what doctors said there was no chance of recovery.
In Mandalay on Saturday, a protest led by university medical students drew more than 1,000 people, many of whom also carried flowers and images of Mya Thwet Thwet Khine.
Others carried signs that read “MDL,” in reference to the nationwide civil disobedience movement that has encouraged doctors, engineers and others to protest the coup by refusing to work.
‘Fight until the end’
Nationwide protests show no signs of slowing down despite recent crackdowns by the military government, including a sixth consecutive night in which the internet was cut off for many hours.
Protesters also gathered elsewhere in Yangon, chanting and holding banners and pictures of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained since her democratically elected government was overthrown.
“There is a chance that many more people will be killed,” said protester Khin Maw Maw Oo.
“We ourselves cannot even know whether or not we will die, but we have to fight to the end regardless of our lives to be successful, and that is only after we get rid of this military dictatorship.”
Aerial images taken on Friday showed streets in Yangon painted with the words “The military dictatorship must fall” in Burmese and “We want democracy” and “Free our leaders” in English.
The security forces have so far been relatively restrained in confronting protesters in Yangon, but appeared to be hardening their stance in areas where there is less media presence.
The military seized power after detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and preventing parliament from meeting, saying the November elections were tainted by voting irregularities.
The election result, in which Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by an overwhelming majority, was confirmed by an electoral commission that has since been replaced by the military.
The military government says it will hold new elections within a year and hand over power to the winner, but opponents of the coup are skeptical of the promise.
The coup was a notable setback for Myanmar’s transition to democracy after nearly 50 years of army rule. Aung San Suu Kyi came to power after the NLD won the 2015 elections, but the generals retained substantial power under the constitution, which was adopted under military rule.
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