At least 34 thought killed in Myanmar
Protester deaths Wednesday highest since takeover
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 on Sunday. Videos from Wednesday also showed security forces firing slingshots at demonstrators, chasing them down and beating an ambulance crew.
The toll could be higher: The Democratic Voice of Burma, an independent television and online news service, tallied 38 deaths.
Demonstrators have 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 fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the crowds and arrested protesters en masse.
The Wednesday death toll was compiled by a data analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his safety. He also collected information where he could on the victims’ names, ages, hometowns and where and how they were killed.
The Associated Press was unable to confirm most of the reported deaths, but several square with online postings.
The U.N. Security Council is expected to hold a closed meeting on the situation on Friday, council diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make the information public before the official announcement.
The United Kingdom requested the meeting, they said.
Any kind of coordinated action at the United Nations will be difficult because two permanent members of the Security Council, China and Russia, would almost certainly veto it.