The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Deadliest day fear of unrest in Myanmar
The UN Human Rights Office says it received “credible information” that a crackdown on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar yesterday left at least 18 people dead and more than 30 wounded.
“Deaths reportedly occurred as a result of live ammunition fired into crowds in Yangon, Dawei, Mandalay, Myeik, Bago and Pokokku,” it said in a statement, referring to several cities in Myanmar, also known as Burma.
“Tear gas was also reportedly used in various locations as well as flashbang and stun grenades.”
“We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters,” its spokesman Ravina Shamdasani was quoted saying.
It would be the highest single-day death toll among protesters who are demanding that the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi be restored to power after being ousted by a coup on February 1.
There were reports of gunfire as police in Yangon, the country’s biggest city, fired tear gas and water cannons while trying to clear the streets of demonstrators.
Social media identified by name one young man believed to have been killed in Yangon. His body was shown in photos and videos lying on a pavement.
A violent crackdown also occurred in Dawei, a much smaller city in southeastern Myanmar, where local media reported that at least three people were killed in a protest march.
Before yesterday there had been eight confirmed reports of killings linked to the army’s takeover, according to the independent Assistance Association of Political Prisoners.
The coup reversed years of slow progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule.
Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party would have been installed for a second fiveyear term in office, but the army blocked parliament from convening and detained her and president Win Myint, as well as other top members of Ms Suu Kyi’s government.
Yesterday’s violence erupted when medical students were marching in Yangon’s streets.