(MYANMAR) – Police had to open fire to break up a protest in the town of Pathein, where Myanmar pro-democracy activists were back out on the streets to demonstrate against military rule a day after the United Nations said 38 people had been killed in the most violent day of unrest since last month’s coup. However, there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Regardless of the danger, activists said they refused to live under military rule and were determined to press for the release of elected government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and recognition of her victory in the election in November. Commenting on the same activist Maung Saungkha said,” We know that we can always get shot and killed with live bullets but there is no meaning to staying alive under the junta.”
A witness said that the police and soldiers opened fire with live rounds with little warning in several cities and towns a day after neighbouring countries had called on the junta to show restraint.
In some parts of Yangon, protesters hung sheets and sarongs on lines across the street to spoil the view of police aiming their guns. They also uncoiled barbed wire to reinforce barricades. But witnesses say that at least eight people were killed in the city. Myanmar Now news agency reported that security forces in Yangon detained about 300 protesters.
U.N. special envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener, said in New York that Wednesday was the bloodiest day since the Feb. 1 coup with 38 deaths, bringing the total toll to more than 50 as the military tries to cement its power.