At least 8 people have been reported dead in protests against the coup in Myanmar Military News
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At least eight people have been killed in Myanmar after security forces fired at one of the largest protests against the military government in recent days, three months after a coup plunged the country into political turmoil.
Thousands of people, in towns and cities across the country, joined the protests on Sunday, calling for a “Global Spring Revolution in Myanmar”. Rallies in support of the coup also took place outside Myanmar when Pope Francis called for peace.
“Shake the world with the voice of the unity of the people of Myanmar,” organizers said in a statement.
Two people were shot dead in Mandalay, the country’s second-largest city, according to the Mizzima news agency.
The Irrawaddy news site posted a photo of a man who was previously reportedly pointing a rifle at Mandalay in the news site.
Three people were killed in the central town of Wetlet, the Myanmar Now news agency said, and two were killed in different villages in northeastern Shan State, the two media reported. The Kachin News Group reported that one person was also killed in the northern jade mining town of Hpakant.
The Reuters news agency was unable to verify the reports and a government spokesman did not respond to the calls.
The military seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and was ordered by the National League for Democracy (NLD) on February 1 in a coup that sparked civil disobedience strikes and mass protests.
The United Nations estimates that long-running conflicts with ethnic armed groups in northern and eastern border areas have escalated and displaced tens of thousands of civilians.
The military has responded to the protests with arrests and deadly force, and neighboring countries and the UN have called for an end to the violence.
In Yangon, the youths gathered on the street corner before speeding down the street in a flash mob – soon after they dispersed to avoid a collision with the authorities.
“The overthrow of the military dictatorship is our cause!” they shouted, waving three fingers to show resistance.
In the eastern state of Shan, young people carried a banner: “They can’t govern us at all.”
Bomb explosions on Sunday they were also reported in various parts of Yangon. The blasts were occurring with increasing frequency in the former capital and authorities have blamed the “instigators”.
No responsibility for the explosions has been claimed.
The Association for the Support of Political Prisoners (AAPP), which is monitoring the situation, says security forces have killed at least 765 protesters since the coup and arrested about 4,609 people.
The military, which has declared the AAPP an illegal organization, has admitted that 258 protesters have been killed, along with 17 police and seven soldiers.
The generals ruled Myanmar for almost 50 years, until they began the process of provisional reform 10 years ago.
#GlobalSpringRevolution Vancouver. Federal democracy is the only way forward.#What’s going on in Myanmar #MilkTeaAlliance # Sisters2Sisters pic.twitter.com/vPv0Amfcr1
– Yasmin Ullah (@YasminJUllah) May 3, 2021
I was unable to attend the London protest today, but I was overwhelmed because it was an amazing artist @ohn_mar_win I took my words with him! ????❤️# GMSR22222 #GlobalMMSpringRevolution #GlobalMyanmarAlliance#What’s going on in Myanmar #London https://t.co/7fkUruUHiP pic.twitter.com/nbWXvpDOG2
– MiMi Aye (@meemalee) May 2, 2021
Army leader Min Aung Hlaing has said a coup was necessary because of the alleged fraud that the NLD won in a landslide in last November’s elections. The election commission said it had found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Myanmar’s ongoing violence has raised alarm among the international community.
Rallies in support of the anti-coup movement were held in cities from Taipei to Vancouver and London, where Hong Kong politician in exile Nathan Law gave his support to the protesters.
“We need to mobilize our global system to punish dictators and stop killing people,” he said. “We need a government that will serve the people, rather than terrify them. We need leaders who lead us, who don’t ask us to bow to them. “
In Rome, meanwhile, Pope Francis prayed that during Sunday’s Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Myanmar could make “a path of meeting, reconciliation and peace.”
Demonstrators have appeared in Taipei in support of the anti-coup movement in Myanmar [Ann Wang/Reuters]
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