Shocked by the repression, Burma prepares for the funeral of the first protester killed
Medical students demonstrate against military coup in Mandalay on February 21, 2021. AP
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Burma is preparing this Sunday February 21 for the funeral of the first victim of military repression, a 20-year-old grocer who has become an icon of the anti-junta resistance, in the aftermath of the deadliest violence since the coup d'état with two demonstrators killed by the police.
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“
Where is the justice?
","
Stop terrorism
","
How many lives must be taken before the world reacts?
», Could one read on the Burmese social networks.
This Sunday morning the streets of the big Burmese cities are quiet, but the youth who have never known the brutalities of a police regime, are in shock, reports
Carol Isoux,
our correspondent in Bangkok.
Almost three weeks after the putsch of February 1, pro-democracy mobilization is not weakening, in the big cities as in the remote villages of the country.
But the army continues to increase the pressure, with more and more violence reported in recent days.
On Saturday, tensions quickly escalated in Mandalay, the country's second city, between police and anti-junta protesters including striking shipyard workers.
The crowd, made up mostly of medical school students and employees of the local water supply company, gathered at midday to shout their opposition to the military regime and to pay tribute to the
young activist whose death they had just learned
, shot in the head during previous demonstrations.
Fearing the arrests of construction workers, some demonstrators threw projectiles at the police who fired.
“
Two people died, including a minor who was shot in the head and around 30 were injured,
” said Hlaing Min Oo, head of a volunteer rescue team.
According to him, "
half of the victims were targeted by live ammunition,
" the others were injured by rubber ammunition and slingshot fire.
More than a dozen people were arrested, according to local media.
It is the first time that Burmese police have openly used live ammunition in broad daylight on a group of unarmed demonstrators.
►
See also: Demonstrations in Burma: two killed and several injured by police gunfire
"
You are our martyr
"
The funeral of the young grocer Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, shot and wounded on February 9 and died on Friday, is scheduled for Sunday.
Tributes began the day before in Rangoon, the economic capital, demonstrators placing white and red roses in front of his portrait with little messages: "
You are our martyr
", "
We will not forget you
".
For its part, the junta reported the death of a police officer earlier this week.
This escalation of terror causes consternation in the ranks of activists and jeopardizes the future of the civil disobedience movement.
The fear of reprisals is very strong in Burma where the junta is used to these brutal methods of repression: the last popular uprisings of 1988 and 2007 were bloodily suppressed by the army.
"
Unacceptable use of force
", according to the UN
This escalation of violence drew new international condemnations.
"
The use of lethal force, intimidation and harassment against peaceful protesters is unacceptable,
" UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres tweeted overnight from Saturday to Sunday.
I condemn the use of deadly violence in Myanmar.
The use of lethal force, intimidation & harassment against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable.
Everyone has a right to peaceful assembly.
I call on all parties to respect election results and return to civilian rule.
- António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 21, 2021
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, for his part, called on "
the army and the police to put an immediate end to violence against civilians
", indicating that the European Union would "
take the decisions appropriate
”.
EU foreign ministers are due to meet on Monday to discuss possible sanctions.
Sanction the conglomerates?
How effective can Western condemnations and measures be?
Burmese youth are calling more than ever for targeted international sanctions against generals.
Coercive measures targeting only certain junta leaders - as is the case with those announced by the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom - will not suffice, several NGOs have warned, urging to target powerful conglomerates as well. controlled by the military.
►
To read also: Burma: despite the putsch, Total intends to continue its activities in the country
In the meantime, the junta does not care much about the condemnations.
She knows that she is tacitly supported by Beijing and Moscow.
Traditional allies of the Burmese army at the United Nations, Chinese and Russians see the crisis as "
an internal affair
" in the country.
The waves of arrests of politicians, activists and strikers therefore continue.
Nearly 570 people have been arrested since February 1, and only about 40 released, according to an NGO providing assistance to political prisoners.
Internet connections were cut for the seventh consecutive night, before being restored in the morning.
►
To read also: Burma: hackers target the junta, the internet again cut
Demonstration scheduled for Monday
Despite the fear and consternation, a large demonstration against the coup military is still scheduled for Monday, February 22.
At the same time, calls for civil disobedience continue with doctors, teachers, air traffic controllers and railway workers still on strike.
The protesters demand the abolition of the constitution which is very favorable to the military, the return of the civilian government and the release of detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi, 75 years old.
The ex-leader, held in secret since her arrest, is indicted for non-political reasons, accused of having "
illegally
"
imported
walkie-talkies and of having violated a law on the management of natural disasters.
A hearing is scheduled for March 1.
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