Myanmar mourns protester’s death as anti-coup rallies rage

Thousands rally defying security forces, attend funeral of first activist killed in the protests

YANGON: Thousands attended a funeral on Sunday for the young woman who was the first person to have been killed in the protests against the Myanmar military’s takeover, just one day after security forces shot dead two more demonstrators.

Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was shot in the head by police on February 9, two days before her 20th birthday, at a protest in the capital, Naypyidaw, and died on Friday.

Mourners lined the entrance to a cemetery in the city as the hearse carrying her body arrived and was taken to a crematorium where more people had gathered. They silently raised their hands in three-finger salutes - a sign of defiance and resistance adopted from neighbouring Thailand - as the black-and-gold vehicle slowly rolled past.

Protesters elsewhere in Myanmar gathered again on Sunday for street demonstrations that have been going on for more than two weeks. In Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, about 1,000 demonstrators began the day by honouring Mya Khine at a mourning ceremony. There were also protests in Myawaddy, on the border with Thailand, and at Inle Lake.

UN condemns junta

A lethal attack on protesters sparked fresh UN condemnation of the country’s new military regime on Sunday. United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres condemned the use of “deadly violence” against the crowd in Mandalay. “The use of lethal force, intimidation & harassment against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable,” Guterres tweeted.

Later, Myanmar’s foreign ministry accused the UN and foreign countries of “flagrant interference” in its internal affairs.

AFP A vehicle carrying the body of protester Mya Thwate Thwate Khine is seen at the front of a convoy during her funeral service on Sunday in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw. She died last Friday after being shot earlier this month during a rally against the coup.