The Myanmar military continued to terrorize peaceful anti-coup demonstrators with lethal force across the country on Monday, killing at least three protesters and severely injuring many others.
The attacks came after soldiers and police came out in force in Yangon on Sunday night in anticipation of another day of mass protests.
Security forces stationed themselves inside hospitals, pagoda compounds and universities in Yangon and other major cities.
Gunfire and stun grenade explosions were heard at night in numerous Yangon townships in what appeared to be a bid to terrorize the city’s population.
But anti-military demonstrators still took to the streets on Monday morning, rallying around yet another call for a general strike, this time to coincide with International Women’s Day.
At a women-led anti-coup demonstration in Sanchaung township, protesters used htameins as flags.
Many superstitious soldiers believe that walking beneath the sarong-like garment – or anything else worn by a woman below the waist – diminishes a man’s power.
Protesters have been hanging htameins above roads to delay the advance of security forces, a strategy that uses the military’s own misogyny against them.
At many protest sites in Yangon, security forces broke up demonstrations using teargas and stun grenades.
Protesters once again avoided confrontations with a cat and mouse strategy, retreating when security forces approached but gathering again whenever they had the chance.
Elsewhere in Myanmar, things were more violent.
Myitkyina, Kachin
Two were shot dead by security forces in the Kachin capital of Myitkyina, residents and a protest organizer said.
The two victims have been identified as 63-year-old Ko Ko Lay, also known as Cho Tha, and 23-year-old Zin Min Htet. They were both shot in the head.
Security forces also used stun grenades and tear gas while attacking protesters in front of the Saint Francis Xavier Catholic church.
“They died on the scene in front of the church. Both of their heads were crushed by bullets,” the protest organizer told Myanmar Now.
The funeral for Ko Ko Lay will be held on Sunday afternoon in accordance with Islamic tradition, while Zin Min Htet’s body was brought to his house, said Lamai Gum Ja from the Peace-talk Creation Group, a local volunteer organization.
At least ten people were arrested and five severely injured in the attack, he added.
Myitkyina residents sought to avoid being attacked by organizing different protest columns around the town as security forces cracked down on the demonstration at the church.
“When tensions rose between the security forces and the protesters in front of the church, we organized another protest column at another area. But they focused on cracking down on the group in front of the church,” another organizer said.
Mandalay
A security forces truck rammed into protesters who were fleeing from a crackdown on motorbikes near 57th Street in Mandalay on Monday morning, injuring at least 6 people.
Two of them – Mya Thway Chel, 22, and Han Lin Aung, 15 – are in a critical condition, according to a volunteer rescue team.
We are still gathering more details about the incident.
Pyapon, Ayeyarwaddy
Thiha Oo, 30, was killed during a crackdown by security forces in Ayeyarwady region’s Pyapon township. Six others were injured, including two severely, during the attack, according to residents.
Thiha Oo was shot in his lower chest. “We don’t know if it was a live bullet or a rubber one,” a resident told Myanmar Now. “He died before arriving at the clinic.”
About 100 anti-coup protesters, including school teachers and young people, were arrested during the crackdown, he said.
Pyapon residents rallied in the town to demand their release, and security forces began releasing 10 people at a time starting from 3pm.
Htilin, Magway
Aung Myat Lin, 23, was shot dead by security forces on Sunday night in northern Magway region’s Htilin township, according to a resident who witnessed the killing.
A group of Htilin residents, including Aung Myat Lin, gathered in front of the local police station on Sunday night demanding the release of a protest organizer before security forces fired live ammunition into the crowd, the resident told Myanmar Now.
Aung Myat Lin was shot in the chest and killed at the scene.
“They fired two rounds of bullets first and then threw stun grenades. And then they started shooting. The boy was shot. The bullet penetrated through his chest. He died near the police station,” the Htilin resident said.
Six other people were injured in the attack. Three of them were shot with live bullets and three with rubber bullets.
The recent deaths add to more than 50 killed by police and soldiers so far while resisting the military regime. The UN said last week the actual number of deaths is likely to be much higher than the toll it has been able to confirm.
An Assistance Association for Political Prisoners report on Sunday said nearly 1,800 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced following the February 1 coup.
