Thousands of #Myanmar protesters took to the street again on Monday, as the military killed 14 civilians following a new round of sanctions being announced. #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar reuters.com/article/worldN…
Monday’s dead included at least eight in the South Dagon suburb of Myanmar’s main city, Yangon. Security forces there fired a much heavier-calibre weapon than usual to clear a barricade of sand bags, witnesses said and a video clip showed.
State television said security forces used “riot weapons” to disperse a crowd of “violent terrorist people” who were destroying a pavement and one man was wounded.
Two people were also killed in shooting in the central town of Myingyan, student leader Moe Myint Hein told Reuters.
Despite the violence, crowds turned out in towns across the country, according to media and social media posts.
Despite the violence, crowds turned out in towns across the country, according to media and social media posts.
One of the main groups behind the protests, the General Strike Committee of Nationalities, called in an open letter on Facebook for ethnic minority forces to help those standing up to the “unfair oppression” of the military.
“It is necessary for the ethnic armed organisations to collectively protect the people,” the group said.
Heavy clashes erupted on the weekend near the Thai border between the army and fighters from Myanmar’s oldest ethnic minority force, the Karen National Union (KNU).
About 3,000 villagers fled to Thailand when military jets bombed a KNU area after a KNU force overran an army outpost and killed 10 people, an activist group and media said.
Thai authorities denied accounts by activist groups that more than 2,000 refugees had been forced back, but a local official said it was government policy for the army to block them at the border and deny access to outside aid groups.
Thailand’s heartless and illegal act must stop now,” Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights Watch.
Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he wanted Myanmar’s latest problems to remain there, while dismissing accusations Thailand backed the junta
Earlier, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said he wanted Myanmar’s latest problems to remain there, while dismissing accusations Thailand backed the junta
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
