Myanmar anti-coup protests resume despite bloodshed

- Protesters returned to the streets of Myanmar's capital Naypyitaw today after the most violent day yet in demonstrations against a coup that halted a tentative transition to democracy under elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The United States and United Nations condemned the use of force against protesters, who demand the reversal of the coup and the release of Suu Kyi and other detained leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD) and activists.

"We cannot stay quiet," youth leader Esther Ze Naw told Reuters. "If there is blood shed during our peaceful protests, then there will be more if we let them take over the country."

In Naypyitaw, hundreds of government workers marched in support of a civil disobedience campaign that has been joined by doctors, teachers and railway workers, among others.

A doctor said one protester was expected to die from a gunshot wound to the head in Tuesday's protests. She was wounded when police fired guns, mostly in the air, to clear protesters in Naypyitaw. Three other people were being treated for wounds from suspected rubber bullets, doctors said. Protesters were also hurt in Mandalay and other cities, where security forces used water cannon as well. State media reported injuries to police during their attempts to disperse protesters, who were accused of throwing stones and bricks.

Dear Editor,

While enjoying Ed Sheeran’s ‘Afterglow’, which has the opening line “Stop the clocks, It’s amazing”, my mind wandered to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) because it has stopped its clocks on making timely payment of tax refunds. It’s not amazing but exhausting and unjust.

I have been waiting since November 2018, according to GRA’s written notice, for a ‘small change’ tax refund - over two years and two months for less than a $100,000 refund. This year while actively following up the matter through direct contact with a seemingly polite GRA officer in the relevant department, I have experienced the typical ‘royal runaround’. And that’s no way to treat senior citizens, or anyone at all.

Stabroek News of Monday, January 4, 2021 carried the headline: “Finance Minister urges more timely payment of tax refunds by GRA”. What has GRA done since to achieve operational efficiency in order to make timely payment of tax refunds? What policy inputs towards eradicating this dilemma has the new GRA Board of Directors made?

I’m sure thousands of tax payers here, as well as those who migrated, would like to know.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Conway