3 feared dead as Myanmar army truck runs down protesters

AP News
By GRANT PECK
6th December 2021

FILE - Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi waits to address judges of the International Court of Justice on the second day of three days of hearings in The Hague, Netherlands on Dec. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

BANGKOK (AP) — An army vehicle plowed into a peaceful march by anti-government protesters in military-ruled Myanmar’s biggest city, reportedly killing at least three people, witnesses and a protest organizer said.

Sunday’s march was one of at least three held in Yangon, and similar rallies were reported in other parts of the country a day ahead of an expected verdict in the first of about a dozen criminal cases against former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was toppled in a military takeover on Feb. 1.

Protesters against military rule in Myanmar march through Manchester city centre

Manchester Evening

Ashlie Blakey

News reporter

1 MAY 2021

Banners read 'reject military coup, save Myanmar'

Protesters marching through Manchester city centre (Image: Manchester Evening News)

Protesters against military rule in Myanmar marched through Manchester city centre this afternoon.

Hundreds of demonstrators joined the peaceful protest which started in Piccadilly Gardens at lunchtime on Saturday (May 1).

Witnesses to Bago killings describe relentless military onslaught against Myanmar civilian population

CNN

Paula Hancocks and Salai TZ, 
April 16, 2021

Eyewitnesses recount bloody crackdown in Bago, Myanmar 03:39

(CNN)The shooting started in the city of Bago, Myanmar at 5 a.m. on April 9.

By the early hours of the next morning, at least 82 people were dead, according to advocacy group AAPP.

One pro-democracy protester, an 18-year-old member of the so-called Defense Team tasked with protecting the neighborhood from the military, says he believes the death toll is closer to 100.

A message from Myanmar

Trending Globally: Politics & Policy
The Watson Institute for International & Public Affairs
Brown University

Trending Globally: Politics & Policy · A Message from Myanmar

In February, a colleague at the Watson Institute forwarded the team at Trending Globally an email from a former student. The subject line read: “I write to you in desperation and with my life at risk.”

The email was sent from Yangon, the capital of Myanmar. The man who sent it was not exaggerating.

Yangon, protests and prayers in the Burmese New Year (VIDEO)

ASIANEWS.It
Francis Khoo Thwe
04/13/2021,

Starting today Thingyan is celebrated for five days. Flowers and potted plants, typical of the festival, used for events. In Tamu, near the border with India, security forces threaten doctors and nurses with guns. For the New Year, the resistance organizes funeral wakes for the heroes killed. Last night a prayer vigil for the fallen in the “Spring Revolution” held close to Pathein cathedral.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - From today until April 18, Myanmar is celebrating the Thingyan, the Burmese New Year, which is the most important annual holiday. The groups resisting the recent military coup have promised to continue protests instead of celebrations even in this period.

More Bloodshed in Myanmar as Crackdown on Coup Protests Continues

The New York Times

By Richard C. Paddock
April 11, 2021

The death toll has passed 700, with more than 80 killed on Friday in one city alone, a rights group said.

University students marching against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday.Credit...The New York Times

The Myanmar military’s bloody crackdown on the nationwide resistance to its rule showed no sign of easing on Sunday, with a human rights group reporting that the death toll across the country had passed 700.

The security forces killed 82 people in a single city on Friday, according to the group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which has been documenting the bloodshed since the military’s Feb. 1 coup. Soldiers used machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades to attack an organized group of protesters who had set up barricades to defend part of that city, Bago.

Myanmar’s military junta uses explosives against protesters

LA PRENSA

LATINA MEDIA
April 9, 2021

Bangkok, Apr 9 (EFE).- Myanmar’s security forces on Friday launched explosive devices against anti-coup protesters in the city of Bago, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Yangon, amid continued condemnation by the international community against the repression.

A resident told online news portal Myanmar Now that, since early morning, the security forces have been firing with heavy weapons at a group of protesters after at least two people died in the city the previous day as a result of repression by the authorities.

The news website also published a series of photographs showing a projectile, which could be a piece of mortar.

Bloodshed in Myanmar as troops open fire on protesters

WHBL

By Syndicated Content
Apr 7, 2021 

(Reuters) - Myanmar troops stormed an anti-coup protest camp on Wednesday, a resident said, in a pre-dawn operation that local media said killed and wounded several demonstrators, as activists defied a bloody crackdown and internet blockade by the ruling junta.

Myanmar has been in chaos since a Feb. 1 coup that ended a brief period of civilian-led democracy and sparked nationwide protests and strikes, despite the ruling military's use of lethal force to quell the resistance.

Myanmar Soldiers, Aiming to Silence Protests, Target Journalists

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Richard C. Paddock
April 2, 2021

Covering a protest battle in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday. Three photojournalists have been shot and wounded while taking photographs of the anti-coup demonstrations.Credit...The New York Times

Ten days after seizing power in Myanmar, the generals issued their first command to journalists: Stop using the words “coup,” “regime” and “junta” to describe the military’s takeover of the government. Few reporters heeded the Orwellian directive, and the junta embraced a new goal — crushing all free expression.

Since then, the regime has arrested at least 56 journalists, outlawed online news outlets known for hard-edge reporting and crippled communications by cutting off mobile data service. Three photojournalists have been shot and wounded while taking photographs of the anti-coup demonstrations.

Thailand braces for refugees as thousands flee Myanmar airstrikes

THE HILL

JUSTINE COLEMAN - 

03/29/21

Thailand is bracing itself for thousands of refugees who are fleeing Myanmar after its military launched several airstrikes near its border in recent days, further escalating the military crackdown after the coup.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said on Monday that his government is getting ready for a potential flood of refugees amid the recent strike attacks, The Associated Press reported.

“We don’t want to have mass migration into our territory, but we will consider human rights, too,” Prayut said.

Dozens Are Gunned Down in ‘Day of Shame’ for Myanmar

New York Times
By Richard C. Paddock
March 28, 2021

A rights group said it had documented 90 killings by the security forces on Saturday. It appeared to be the bloodiest day since protests against the military coup began.

Children and bystanders were among the dozens shot and killed in Myanmar on Saturday as the security forces cracked down on protests against the February military coup. On the same day, a parade honored the army.CreditCredit...The New York Times

On the eve of a major military celebration, Myanmar’s army warned people not to come out to protest or they could be shot “in the back,” or in the head.

But turn out they did on Saturday, and they were met with brutal force. At least dozens were killed, and perhaps more than 100, in what appeared to be the worst day of violence in Myanmar since the Feb. 1 military coup.

Many of the victims were bystanders. Among those shot and killed were a 5-year-old boy, two 13-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl. A baby girl in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, was struck in the eye with a rubber bullet. Her parents said she was expected to live.

Myanmar security forces kill over 100 protesters in 'horrifying' day of bloodshed

REUTERS
Reuters Staff
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA
MARCH 27, 2021

(Reuters) -Myanmar security forces killed 114 people, including some children, in a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters on Saturday, the bloodiest day of violence since last month’s military coup, news reports and witnesses said.

 

The killings, which took place on Armed Forces Day, drew strong renewed criticism from Western countries. British Ambassador Dan Chugg said the security forces had “disgraced themselves” and the U.S. envoy called the violence horrifying.

Military jets also launched air strikes on a village in territory controlled by an armed group from the Karen ethnic minority and at least two people were killed, a civil society group said.

Myanmar: UN chief condemns killing of civilians during brutal crackdown on protestors

UN News
27 March 2021
Peace and Security

Unsplash/Zinko Hein.Young man lights a candle during a night vigil in Yangon, Myanmar.

The UN chief condemned in the strongest terms, the killing of dozens of civilians, including children and young people, by security forces in Myanmar on Saturday.

In a statement issued by Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “the continuing military crackdown…is unacceptable and demands a firm, unified and resolute international response”. 

As Myanmar’s military celebrated Armed Forces Day with a parade in the country’s capital, Naypyitaw, soldiers and police suppressed protesters during what has resulted in the highest daily death toll since demonstrations began last month.

“The military celebrated Armed Forces Day by committing mass murder against the people it should be defending”, tweeted Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

He added that the Civil Disobedience Movement is responding with “powerful weapons of peace” and called for the world “to respond in kind with and for the people of Myanmar”.

Over 100 protestors shot dead by Myanmar armed forces on ‘day of shame’, UN ‘horrified’

NORTHEAST NOW

NE NOW NEWS
March 27, 2021

Deaths have been reported from 40 cities in Myanmar.

Over 100 protestors were shot dead by armed forces in Myanmar on Saturday.

This bloodshed by the Myanmar armed forces comes on the Country’s Armed Forces Day.

Deaths have been reported from 40 cities in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s military resorted to “shoot to kill” protestors on Saturday as thousands of anti-coup protestors took to the Country’s streets.

Dozens feared dead as security forces stage violent crackdown

AFP
Frontier Myanmar
MARCH 27, 2021

A protester in Yangon's Thaketa Township walks along a smoke-filled road earlier today. (Frontier)

Security forces killed at least 24 protesters today, witnesses said, in violent crackdowns on demonstrations across the country as the military regime staged a major show of force for its annual Armed Forces Day parade.

The capital Nay Pyi Taw saw a grand parade of troops and military vehicles in the morning, with a speech by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing warning that acts of so-called “terrorism” were unacceptable.

By afternoon, as protesters continued to come out across Myanmar, AFP verified at least 24 people were killed – though local media put the death toll at far higher, with Myanmar Now reporting 91 killed.

United States Targets Burmese Military Forces for Repression of Pro-Democracy Protests

U.S. Embassy in Burma
March 22, 2021

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two individuals and two entities connected to the Burmese military and its violent repression of pro-democracy protests. Treasury took these actions in response to the Burmese military’s continued campaign of violence and intimidation against peaceful protesters and civil society.

“The Burmese security forces’ lethal violence against peaceful protesters must end,” said Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Andrea M. Gacki. “Treasury will continue to use the full range of our authorities to promote accountability for the actions of the Burmese military and police. We continue to stand with the people of Burma.”

US and allies sanction Myanmar's military for violent repression of protesters

CNN
By Nicole Gaouette, 
March 22, 2021

Washington (CNN)US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new sanctions against members of Myanmar's military on Monday for the ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy protests since the military seized power in a February 1 coup.

The penalties were the second set that the US announced in coordination with allies on Monday. Earlier in the day, the US and European Union announced human rights sanctions against China for its ongoing repression in Xinjiang province, including of Uyghur Muslims.

Myanmar’s Ethnic Chinese Deny Allegiance to Beijing as They Risk Lives Against Junta

THE IRRAWADDY 

18 March 2021

Kyal Sin (left), Khant Nyar Hein (middle), and Kyaw Win Ko (right)

“Please don’t hate Chinese in Myanmar. We were born here,” a mournful mother of an ethnic Chinese teenager appealed to the people of Myanmar shortly after her son was shot dead by police in Yangon.

An ethnic Chinese, Khant Nyar Hein or Lin Yaozong, 18, was shot down on the street by the military regime’s security forces on Sunday in Tamwe Township while he was taking part in a protest. He became one of more than 200 civilians killed by police and soldiers in a flurry of lethal force unleashed on peaceful protesters following the Feb. 1 coup.

Those who learned of the fate of the first-year medical student were saddened and sympathetic to his mother, who has lost her only son.

Fears of 'digital dictatorship' as Myanmar deploys AI

REUTERS
Rina Chandran,
Thomson Reuters Foundation
MARCH 18, 2021

BANGKOK, March 18 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Protesters in Myanmar fear they are being tracked with Chinese facial recognition technology, as spiralling violence and street surveillance spark fears of a “digital dictatorship” to replace ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Human rights groups say the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to check on citizens’ movements poses a “serious threat” to their liberty.

More than 200 people have been killed since Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi was overthrown in a Feb. 1 coup, triggering mass protests that security forces have struggled to suppress with increasingly violent tactics.

Security forces have focused on stamping out dissent in cities including the capital Naypyitaw, Yangon and Mandalay, where hundreds of CCTV cameras had been installed as part of a drive to improve governance and curb crime.

Human Rights Watch has expressed its “heightened concern” over cameras armed with AI technology that can scan faces and vehicle licence plates in public places, and alert authorities to those on a wanted list.

Myanmar Buddhist Association Signals Possible Break with Military Junta

THE I DIPLOMAT

By Sebastian Strangio
March 18, 2021

The opposition of the country’s main Buddhist authority would undermine the military government’s already shaky legitimacy.

Myanmar’s influential Buddhist monks’ association has urged the country’s military junta to end violence against protesters, accusing an “armed minority” of responsibility for the killing of unarmed civilians protesting the February 1 coup.

According to a report in the local news outlet Myanmar now, the 47-member State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee, a government-appointed body of Buddhist abbots, decided Tuesday to suspend its activities, calling for an immediate end to the junta’s violent attacks on anti-coup protesters