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MANDALAY: A raid on a shipyard in Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay, turned violent on Saturday (February 20) when police and soldiers fired live rounds and rubber bullets at protesters.
A man died of a head injury, according to a Mandalay emergency service and media workers, including Lin Khaing, assistant editor of the Voice of Myanmar news outlet in the city.
An injured person is carried away by a medical team after security forces opened fire on protesters during a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay on February 20, 2021 (Photo: AFP).
At least five people were injured by rubber bullets, a photographer at the scene reported, while emergency medical personnel treating the wounded confirmed that at least six others received live bullets.
“Six men with gunshot wounds came to our team. Two are seriously wounded,” a medical assistant to the doctors told AFP.
A doctor at the scene confirmed the use of real bullets.
A protester receives treatment after being injured during clashes in Myanmar. (Photo: AFP / STR)
According to the media and an ambulance service, striking police and shipyard workers clashed for hours and security forces fired weapons to break up the crowd.
Much of the country has been in turmoil since the army deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup on February 1, with hundreds of thousands of protesters taking to the streets to protest the junta.
Protesters hold up images of Myanmar’s civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, detained during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on February 20, 2021 (Photo: AFP / YE AUNG THU).
Authorities have arrested hundreds of people since the coup, many of them public officials who had been boycotting work as part of a campaign of civil disobedience.
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On Saturday, hundreds of police officers gathered at the Yadanarbon Shipyard in Mandalay, on the Irrawaddy River.
Their presence raised fears among nearby residents that authorities would try to arrest the workers for participating in the anti-coup movement.
Banging pots and pans in what has become a characteristic gesture of defiance, protesters began yelling at the police to leave.
A police officer points a gun at protesters during a demonstration against the military coup in Mandalay on February 20, 2021 (Photo: AFP).
But police opened fire with rubber bullets and slingshots, dispersing alarmed protesters and leaving at least five wounded.
A woman received a head injury and emergency workers quickly administered first aid.
“The shooting continues. Some people are injured,” the president of the city’s rescue service told AFP.
Police fire projectiles at protesters during the Mandalay riots. (Photo: AFP / STR)
A Facebook video broadcast live by a resident at the scene appeared to broadcast gunshot sounds non-stop.
“They are shooting viciously,” said the resident, who appeared to be taking refuge at a nearby construction site.
“We have to find a safer place.”
An AFP reporter on the ground heard several shots.
READ: Diverse protesters from Myanmar united in opposition to the coup
Since nationwide protests began two weeks ago, authorities in some cities have fired tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets at protesters.
There have been isolated incidents of live rounds in the capital, Naypyidaw.
An anti-coup protester who was shot in the head during a February 9 demonstration in Naypyidaw died on Friday.
