At least 30 killed in Myanmar
Security forces escalated a crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, killing dozens.
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar security forces escalated their crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, killing at least 34 protesters Wednesday in several cities, according to accounts on social media and local news reports compiled by a data analyst.
That is highest daily death toll since the Feb. 1 takeover, exceeding the 18 that the U.N. Human Rights Office said were killed Sunday, and could galvanize the international community, which has responded fitfully so far to the violence. Videos Wednesday also showed security forces firing slingshots at demonstrators, chasing them down and even beating an ambulance crew.
The toll could even be higher; the Democratic Voice of Burma, an independent television and online news service, tallied 38 deaths.
Demonstrators have regularly flooded the streets of cities across the country since the military seized power and ousted the elected government of leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Their numbers have remained high even as security forces have repeatedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds, and arrested protesters en masse.
The standoff is familiar in a country with a history of peaceful resistance to military rule — and brutal crackdowns. The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy in the Southeast Asian nation after five decades of military rule.
Wednesday’s death toll was compiled by a data analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety.
The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm most of the reported deaths, but several square with online postings. The data analyst, who is in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, said he collected the information to honor those who were killed for their resistance.
According to his list, the highest number of deaths were in Yangon, where the total was 18.
In the central city of Monywa, which has turned out huge crowds, eight deaths were reported.
Three deaths were reported in Mandalay, the country’s second-biggest city, and two in Salin, a town in Magwe region. Mawlamyine, in the country’s southeast, and Myingyan and Kalay, both in central Myanmar, each had a single death.
As part of the crackdown, security forces have also arrested hundreds of people, including journalists. On Saturday, at least eight journalists were detained.
The escalation of the crackdown has led to increased diplomatic efforts to resolve Myanmar’s political crisis — but there appear to be few viable options.
The U.N. Security Council is expected to hold a closed meeting on the situation Friday, council diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The United Kingdom requested the meeting, they said.
Any kind of coordinated action at the United Nations will be difficult since two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, would almost certainly veto it. Some countries have imposed or are considering imposing their own sanctions.