3 people jump to their deaths in bid to dodge Myanmar junta’s raid

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YANGON: At least three people in Myanmar died and several were seriously injured after apparently jumping off an apartment building in the city of Yangon in a bid to escape a raid by security forces, according to media reports.

Since the military overthrew the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February, the country has been thrown into crisis with almost daily protests and fighting between the army and hastily formed militias.

The incident on Tuesday occurred in the Botahtaung district of Yangon, the Myanmar Now news portal reported, citing residents.

The report, which showed a photograph of three people lying motionless on the ground in an alleyway, said that two other injured youths were later picked up by an ambulance.

The Us-funded RFA (Radio Free Asia) said in a report posted on its Facebook page that all five involved in the incident - four men and a woman had later died.

Tin Zaw, the father of one of the dead youths, said in an interview with RFA that his 27-year-old son had been arrested by security forces in February, but had with his help been released.

He said his son had never been interested in politics before the coup, but since the military takeover had tried to resist the junta.

“There wasn’t any big organisation behind him,” said Tin Zaw, adding that he was proud of his son.

Soe Myat Thu, the husband of a 29-year-old woman who was also believed to be among the dead, told Reuters that he had not yet received her body.