Chinese factories burned on bloodiest day since Myanmar’s military coup

An anti-coup protester with a scarf covering the face watches during a demonstration in Mandalay

Credit: AP

Protesters are pushing for the military to step down and the country’s ousted civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and members of her government to be released from detention.  

Suu Kyi had been scheduled to make a virtual court appearance on Monday, but the hearing was adjourned until March 24 because of internet problems, according to the head of her legal team, Khin Maung Zaw. Authorities also told him that Suu Kyi could only be represented by two junior lawyers, he said. 

Suu Kyi has been charged with possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies, breaching telecommunications laws, violating restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid, and intent to cause public unrest. 

Sunday saw the bloodiest day of protests since the Feb. 1 military coup. Most of Sunday’s deaths were in a Yangon industrial suburb where Chinese-financed garment factories had been set on fire, injuring and trapping Chinese staff. A doctor, who didn’t want to be identified, told Reuters that security forces killed at least 37 protesters in the Hlaingthaya suburb after arson attacks on the factories.

Tom Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar, tweeted that he was “heartbroken/outraged at news of the largest number of protesters murdered by Myanmar security forces in a single day. Junta leaders don’t belong in power, they belong behind bars.”

The military imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi on charges she had obtained walkie talkies

Credit: AFP

By Monday, authorities had imposed martial law on six townships, including the Hlaingthaya suburb. That means that if people are arrested in those areas, they will face trial by military tribunal and sentences from three years’ hard labour to the death penalty. Mobile internet connections also appeared blocked on Monday. 

The Chinese embassy urged Myanmar to take further measures to stop the violence, punish the perpetrators and ensure the safety of Chinese companies and people in Myanmar.

Protesters believe that Beijing was supportive of the military coup, while Beijing’s ambassador to Myanmar has said the situation is “absolutely not what China wants to see”.

For the first time Monday, China spoke out against anti-coup protesters who have been targeting Chinese projects and investments. 

An editorial in Chinese state media condemned the “delinquents” who smashed, looted or burnt Chinese-invested factories and said they must be punished.

Following the torching of the factories, Taiwan’s representative office in Myanmar warned its companies to fly the Taiwanese flag and hang up signs in Burmese reading ‘Taiwanese company’ so that they are not mistaken for Chinese. 

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said Monday that one Taiwanese company had been caught up in the violence, with 10 of its citizens trapped inside its premises but safe. 

While China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, the two have been ruled separately for decades. 

Meanwhile, protesters have found a new symbol of resistance to the junta: tattoos. The phrases “Freedom from Fear” and “Spring Revolution”, as well as the face of Aung San Suu Kyi, are increasingly on display on protesters’ bodies.