The death toll has been on the rise in Myanmar following a recent Military coup in the Country. Myanmar’s ruling junta has declared a martial law in six townships in the country’s largest city which did not augur well among some citizens.
Security forces killed dozens of protesters over the weekend in an increasingly lethal crackdown on resistance to last month’s military coup.
The detained democratic leader, Aung San Suu Kyi supporters, marched again on Monday, Joining the Protests too was in The Second City of Mandalay and the Western Town of Hakha, the Police opened fire in the central towns of Myingyan and Aunglan, killing another five people as witnesses and media report.
At least 44 people have been confirmed to have died on Sunday, in the deadliest single day violence since the coup started in February.
The highest death toll came from protests in two industrial townships in Yangon, Hlaing Tharyar and Shwepyitha, where garment factories were set on fire. At least 37 anti-coup protesters were killed, a doctor in the area told Reuters.
The state broadcaster MRTV said on Monday that the Yangon townships of North Dagon, South Dagon, Dagon Seikkan and North Okkalapa had been put under the martial law.
An initial announcement was made late on Sunday saying Hlaing Tharyar and Shwepyitha too were being placed under martial law.
Since the take over six weeks ago, Myanmar has been under a nationwide state of emergency, with its civilian leaders ousted and detained, and military leaders in charge of all government.
Sunday’s announcement was the first use of martial law since the coup and suggested more direct military control of security, instead of local police.
The announcement said the state administrative council had acted to enhance security and restore law and order, and that the Yangon regional commander had been entrusted with administrative, judicial and military powers in the area under his command. The orders cover six of Yangon’s 33 townships, all of which experienced major violence in recent days.
The China’s embassy complained on Sunday that Chinese-owned factories were among the buildings burned and condemned the actions of the “destroyers”. However they were silent on the killings.
The British ambassador to Myanmar, Dan Chugg, said on Sunday night that he was “appalled by the security forces’ use of deadly force against innocent people” and called for the junta to return democratically elected civilian leaders to power.
The UN special envoy for Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said she had heard “heartbreaking accounts of killings, mistreatment of demonstrators and torture of prisoners” from contacts in the country over the weekend.
Strongly condemning the bloodshed, she said the international community, “including regional actors, must come together in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their democratic aspirations”.
The UN special reporter on human rights in Myanmar, Tom Andrews, voiced outrage at Sunday’s killings and called on countries to halt supplies of cash and weapons to the junta.
The military has repeatedly justified its power grab by alleging widespread electoral fraud in November’s elections, which the NLD won by a landslide.
Soldiers and police have in recent weeks been staging near-daily crackdowns against protesters calling for a return to democracy, using teargas and firing rubber bullets and live rounds to quell anti-coup protests
Aung San Suu Kyi had been due to appear in court in Yangon in Monday, but it was unable to hold a virtual hearing because of internet problems and the hearing has been adjourned until 24 March, the head of her legal team said.
Aung San Suu Kyi faces at least four charges: possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies, violating coronavirus restrictions, breaching telecommunications laws and intent to cause public unrest
Residents hiding at home heard gunshots continuously throughout the day while military trucks were seen driving through the smoky streets.
Despite the bloodshed, members of the anti-coup movement remain defiant