Protests in Burma: several injured after police gunfire
An injured Burmese protester is transported for post-charge treatment in Mandalay during a rally against the military coup, February 20, 2021. AP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
At least six people were injured this Saturday, February 20 in Mandalay, Burma's second city, when police fired at demonstrators protesting against the junta.
Several thousand protesters, including representatives of many ethnic minorities in traditional dress, again took to the streets of Rangoon, the economic capital.
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Security forces fired live ammunition at protesters in Mandalay, Burma's second city on Saturday, injuring at least six, medical staff told AFP.
Several hundred police officers intervened at a shipyard in the city, raising fears of arrests of employees mobilized against the coup.
Protesters then banged on pots in an attempt to prevent the arrests, but the police fired.
"
We received six men with gunshot wounds, two of them seriously,
" a medic told AFP.
An on-site doctor confirmed the use of live ammunition.
Tribute to the killed protester
In addition, thousands of people gathered, not only in Mandalay, but also Yangon, to pay tribute to Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, the 20-year-old grocer who died on Friday after spending ten days in intensive care, recalls
Clea Broadhurst.
, from the International service of RFI.
The protesters held signs on which we could read: "
You are our martyr
" or even: "
The bullet which pierced her hit all our heads
".
According to doctors, the girl was targeted in the head by live ammunition.
For its part, the authorities say that only rubber projectiles were used that day by the police.
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Read also: Burma: anti-coup rallies mourning the death of a demonstrator
Abroad, call to demonstrate in front of embassies
This young woman is the first victim of the military repression.
This Friday, in northern Burma, small groups of protesters were dispersed by police and soldiers armed with batons, according to online videos and witnesses.
Despite the fear of violent reprisals by the military, calls for civil disobedience continue.
Exiled activist Min Ko Naing also called on his compatriots in the diaspora to demonstrate in front of their country's embassies this Saturday afternoon in support of the Burmese movement.
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To read also: Tom Andrews, UN special rapporteur: in Burma, "the army is capable of anything"
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