Myanmar security forces use rubber bullets on coup protestors

SECURITY forces in Myanmar yesterday intensified their crackdown against anti-coup protesters.

The authorities are seeking to quell the large-scale demonstrations calling for the military junta that seized power earlier this month to reinstate the elected government.

More than 1,000 protesters were rallying yesterday in front of the Myanmar Economic Bank in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, when at least ten trucks full of soldiers and police arrived. They started firing catapults towards protesters before getting out of their trucks, according to a photographer who witnessed the events.

The soldiers and police then attacked the protesters with sticks and catapults, and police could be seen aiming long guns into the air amid sounds that resembled gunfire.

Local media reported that rubber bullets were also fired into the crowd, and that a few people were injured. Police were also seen pointing guns towards the protesters.

Earlier yesterday, Myanmar’s military leaders extended their detention of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose remand was set to expire and whose freedom is a key demand of the crowds of people continuing to protest against the February 1 coup.

Ms Suu Kyi will now be remanded until February 17. The Nobel laureate remains under house arrest on a minor charge of possessing unregistered imported walkie-talkies.