Myanmar protesters in wedding gowns during the latest anti-coup rally
Credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP
Police in Myanmar raided the headquarters of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party in Yangon late on Tuesday night after a crackdown on nationwide demonstrations that left a young woman fighting for her life in hospital.
Vigils were held on Wednesday for the 19-year-old student, who remained in critical condition in a hospital in the capital Naypyitaw, after being shot in the head while she positioned herself with other protesters behind a protective barricade.
Mobile phone footage of the incident showed the police firing weapons in the direction of the protesters as they sheltered from a water cannon, and a gunshot rings out as she drops to the ground.
Three other people were being treated for wounds from suspected rubber bullets, doctors said, and protesters were also hurt in Mandalay and other cities where security forces deployed water cannons and tear gas, arresting dozens. Four policemen were also injured as protesters threw stones.
More protesters are wearing protective gear
Credit: Ye Aung Thu/AFP
The United States and United Nations condemned Tuesday’s use of force against the protesters who have been peacefully demonstrating against a February 1 coup and the arrest of Ms Suu Kyi and leading members of her ruling NLD, which won a landslide victory in a November poll.
Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups demanded an immediate end to the authorities’ use of excessive and lethal force.
“Myanmar police shooting at a woman demonstrator whose back was turned is unconscionable as well as unlawful,” said Richard Weir, HRW’s crisis and conflict researcher.
“The police need to stop responding to peaceful protests by firing off guns and immediately investigate alleged wrongful use of force. Myanmar’s military junta should rescind its draconian orders on protests and end its crackdown.”
On Wednesday, thousands of anti-coup protesters remained undeterred by the risks, taking to the streets again for a fifth straight day to demand the democratic government be restored.
There were no reports of violence and the atmosphere at times was festive as young women in Disney Princess costumes, ripped topless men and rows of monks in saffron robes joined the swelling ranks of the rallies.
Baby pools, pride groups, guitars and humorous placards: there was lots of colour on display at the protest today on Natmauk Road outside the United Nations office in Yangon. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar pic.twitter.com/TcX32QjpS5
— Frontier Myanmar (@FrontierMM) February 10, 2021
“We want to show that young girls are also participating against the military coup. We thought these costumes were the most obvious way to do that,” one young woman told Frontier Myanmar about the princess theme.
Hundreds of government workers, including staff from the ministry of electricity and energy marched in support of a growing civil disobedience campaign.
The campaign was initially kicked off by the medical profession last week and has since spread to teachers, engineers, lawyers and other professionals who say they are unwilling to work for the military regime.
In a further squeeze on the miltary’s opponents, soldiers took over a clinic in Naypyitaw that had been treating wounded protesters.
However, in Kayah state in eastern Myanmar, pictures emerged on social media of dozens of police officers switching sides to join demonstrators, holding placards that read “We don’t want dictatorship” and “We stand with the people.”
General Min Aung Hlaing, the army chief who orchestrated the coup, has not been seen since a TV broadcast on Monday evening when he urged the public not to become emotional and pledged to hold fresh elections.
He has been widely condemned by the international community. But in a sign that he is seeking legitimacy from more sympathetic neighbouring countries, it emerged on Wednesday that he had written to Thailand’s prime minister asking for his help to support democracy.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, an army general who himself first seized power in a coup, told reporters he was “supportive of the democratic process in Myanmar” and the rest was up to Min Aung Hlaing to see how to proceed, reported the Bangkok Post.
He added: “What is most important today is to maintain good relations because it impacts the people, the economy, border trade, particularly now," General Prayuth said.
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