NAYPYIDAW (MYANMAR) – A young woman protester in Myanmar who was shot in the head last week amid clash with police, succumbed to death on Friday, her brother said. This is the first death among people protesting against a February 1 coup.
Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who had just turned 20, was on life support since being hospitalised on February 9, after being hit, which according to doctors, was a live bullet at a protest in the capital, Naypyitaw.
Her brother, Ye Htut Aung, speaking by telephone, said, “I feel really sad and have nothing to say.”
Her death is likely to spiral into intense protests for those, who were again on the streets on Friday.
protester Nay Lin Htet, 24, told at a rally in the main city of Yangon. “I’m proud of her and I’ll come out until we achieve our goal for her. I’m not worried about my safety.”
It would mark two straight weeks of daily demonstrations against the military’s seizure of power and the arrest of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Police have, however, fired rubber bullets a lot of times to break up crowds. The army says one policeman died from sustained injuries in a protest.
The city’s main protest site near the Sule Pagoda was sealed by the police. It set up barricades on access roads to an intersection where tens of thousands have gathered this week.
Hundreds of people gathered at the barricades anyway, a witness said.
The northern city of Myitkyina saw baton-wielding police and soldiers dispersing protesters, video on social media showed.
A small group of opponents of the coup gathered outside the British embassy in Yangon expressing gratitude for the support.
“Sanctioning military leaders is largely symbolic, but the moves to sanction military companies will be much more effective,” said Mark Farmaner, director of the Burma Campaign UK group, as part of the reaction to the sanctions.
That said, youth leader and activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi were in praise of Britain’s asset freezes and travel bans on three generals as well as steps to prevent any form of aid for the military and to stop British businesses working with the army. Canada had made its stand clear that it would take action against nine military officials.
“We urge other nations to have such coordinated and united response,” she wrote on Twitter. “We will be waiting for EU sanctions announcement on 22nd.” she said, calling for sanctions to include measures against military businesses.
Myanmar’s Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said 521 people had been detained as of Thursday. Of them, 44 had been released.