A total of 169 people in 50 towns and cities across the country were murdered by the junta’s gunmen over the weekend, according to Myanmar Now’s latest tally of the worst bout of violence since the February 1 coup.
We have been able to identify all but 15 of the victims. At least 14 of them were children.
Also among the victims were a 20-year-old nurse working with a rescue team, a footballer, a doctor, an architect, a women’s rights activist, a bank employee, a vendor of Burmese snacks, a policeman who was on strike, and a tour guide.
The nurse, Thinzar Hein, was shot in the head in Monywa while helping other protesters who had been shot by soldiers.
Video footage from February 22 showed her giving a speech to a crowd of protesters in Monywa in which she urged government employees to join the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).
In the video, she said young people did not want to be forced into a repressive education system under the regime of coup leader Min Aung Hlaing.
She also spoke about how she voted for the first time in last year’s election, which the military falsely claimed was marred by widespread voter fraud following a massive landslide victory for the National League for Democracy.
Chit Lin Thu, a 21-year-old striking police officer, was among 114 people murdered on Saturday while Min Aung Hlaing attended a military parade in Naypyidaw to mark Armed Forces Day.
Chit Lin Thu abandoned his police duties on March 4, a day after his superiors issued a shoot-to-kill order in response to anti-coup protests, said his brother, whose name has been withheld for security reasons.
“He told me: ‘my brothers could be among the protesters. The people did not do anything wrong and I can’t shoot.’ He left his job and has been protesting,” the brother told Myanmar Now.
Khukhu Celina, an activist with the Women for Justice rights group, was also killed by the junta’s armed forces during an attack on an anti-coup protest in Kalay, Sagaing region. She was shot in the chest.
Many fellow activists and friends mourned her death and said she was always at the forefront of the fight against injustice and inequality.
Aye Myat Thu, 11, from Mawlamyine in Mon state, was the youngest to be murdered on the weekend.
Her funeral was held in Mawlamyine on Sunday. She was buried with her favourite toys, colouring books and a drawing of Hello Kitty.
The data in the chart below is based on confirmation from family members, local residents and relief organisations. Please contact us if you would like to change or add any information.
