The woman killed was a teacher who demonstrated. Demonstrations also in Mandalay, in Lashio (Shan State), in Myitkyina (Kachin State). In Mandalay there are Catholic and Buddhist parades. In Myitkyina a nun pleaded alone in front of the military. The new junta fires the Burmese ambassador to the UN, Kyaw Moe Tun, who has asked for the help of the international community.
Yangon (AsiaNews) - An expectant mother died this morning in Yangon, hit by an army bullet. The woman, a teacher, was demonstrating together with thousands of other colleagues and doctors against the coup and the military dictatorship established by gen. Min Aung Hlaing, and for the liberation of democratic leaders Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint.
Police and military used bullets, tear gas and charges to disperse groups of demonstrators in different parts of the city.
Another man, taken to the hospital with a bullet in the chest, died soon after. In other cities of Myanmar there are similar scenes: demonstrations and killings. In Dawei, in the southeast, at least one person was killed and more than 12 were injured, according to local media.
Other demonstrations were held in Mandalay, Lashio (Shan State), Myitkyina (Kachin State). So far there are no serious accidents. In Mandalay, Catholics, along with Buddhist nuns, demonstrated in their thousands, praying the rosary and carrying pro-democracy placards (photo 2). In Myitkyina, a nun knelt alone in front of the policemen, asking them to stop the violence and defend democracy (photo 3).
Last week, Jan. Min Aung Hlaing called on the military to use minimal force to contain the protests. But despite this, as of yesterday at least 5 people had died, killed by lethal bullets fired during demonstrations, or during night raids. The army claims that a policeman also died after a clash with demonstrators.
The duration and extent of the demonstrations and the strike (the CDM, Civil Disobedience Movement, the movement of civil disobedience) has plunged the country into crisis and frustrated the junta, also pressured by criticism from the international community.
Yesterday, the Burmese ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun asked the UN General Assembly for help against the military dictatorship. Today, the new government of the junta fired him for having "betrayed the nation" and "abused the power and responsibilities of ambassador".
State television reported that more than 470 people were arrested in yesterday's demonstrations. It is still unclear how many people have been detained today.