According to an advocacy group of Myanmar, at least 22 pro-democracy protesters in the Hlaingthaya suburb of Yangon were killed by the ruling army of the country on Sunday while 16 more were shot dead by the military in other places according to the claims of the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
Protestors on Sunday also torched a number of factories that allegedly were Chinese-financed.
One policeman was also killed on Sunday which was the bloodiest day since the Myanmar army took over the country on February 1 in a coup against the country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to the state media, the army imposed martial law in Hlaingthaya and in the Shwepyitha districts of Yangon.
A number of Chinese staff were injured and trapped in the attack on garment factories in Hlaingthaya by unidentified assailants, the Chinese embassy said, and appealed to Myanmar to provide protection to the properties and citizens of china in the country. Pro-democracy protestors in Myanmar consider China to be supportive of the ruling military junta.
According to local media, security forces opened fire on protesters in the suburb where migrants from across the country live soon after the arson started in the industrial area.
"It was horrible. People were shot before my eyes. It will never leave my memory," one photojournalist on the scene who did not want to be named was quoted in one of the reports.
This action was taken by the security forces following the setting ablaze of four garment factories and a fertiliser plant while fire engines were stopped from reaching the factories by a group of about 2,000 people, said the army-run Myawadday television.
Activist Myat Thu said protests in the country's second city of Mandalay were planned for Monday.
On Sunday violence was also reported from other parts of Yangon as protests continued till late in the night.
"Three people died in my arms. We rescued about 20 injured people last night," Zizawah, 32, a resident and protester in the Thingyunkyun district of Yangon, was quoted in one of the local reports. While three people died, there were scores of people who were injured in the South Dagon district after they came out to protest, May Myat Noe, 21, another resident was quoted as saying, "They used machine guns and were constantly firing at the people," she reportedly said.
No comments on the killings were available from the junta government.
Solidarity with the people of Hlaingthaya was voiced by Dr Sasa, a representative of elected lawmakers from the assembly that was ousted by the army. "The perpetrators, attackers, enemies of the people of Myanmar, the evil SAC (State Administrative Council) will be held accountable for every drop of blood that shed," he said in a message to the media.
With the latest deaths on Sunday, the total number of death of pro-democracy protestors at the hands of security forces reached 126, according to the AAPP. The security forces had also detained more than 2,150 people till Saturday while only about 300 have been released, it said.
An appeal to the United Nations member states for cutting down the supply of cash and weapons to the military of Myanmar was made by Tom Andrews, the United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar.
"Heartbroken/outraged at news of the largest number of protesters murdered by Myanmar security forces in a single day. Junta leaders don't belong in power, they belong behind bars," he said on Twitter.
(Source:www.channelnewsasia.com)
Protestors on Sunday also torched a number of factories that allegedly were Chinese-financed.
One policeman was also killed on Sunday which was the bloodiest day since the Myanmar army took over the country on February 1 in a coup against the country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
According to the state media, the army imposed martial law in Hlaingthaya and in the Shwepyitha districts of Yangon.
A number of Chinese staff were injured and trapped in the attack on garment factories in Hlaingthaya by unidentified assailants, the Chinese embassy said, and appealed to Myanmar to provide protection to the properties and citizens of china in the country. Pro-democracy protestors in Myanmar consider China to be supportive of the ruling military junta.
According to local media, security forces opened fire on protesters in the suburb where migrants from across the country live soon after the arson started in the industrial area.
"It was horrible. People were shot before my eyes. It will never leave my memory," one photojournalist on the scene who did not want to be named was quoted in one of the reports.
This action was taken by the security forces following the setting ablaze of four garment factories and a fertiliser plant while fire engines were stopped from reaching the factories by a group of about 2,000 people, said the army-run Myawadday television.
Activist Myat Thu said protests in the country's second city of Mandalay were planned for Monday.
On Sunday violence was also reported from other parts of Yangon as protests continued till late in the night.
"Three people died in my arms. We rescued about 20 injured people last night," Zizawah, 32, a resident and protester in the Thingyunkyun district of Yangon, was quoted in one of the local reports. While three people died, there were scores of people who were injured in the South Dagon district after they came out to protest, May Myat Noe, 21, another resident was quoted as saying, "They used machine guns and were constantly firing at the people," she reportedly said.
No comments on the killings were available from the junta government.
Solidarity with the people of Hlaingthaya was voiced by Dr Sasa, a representative of elected lawmakers from the assembly that was ousted by the army. "The perpetrators, attackers, enemies of the people of Myanmar, the evil SAC (State Administrative Council) will be held accountable for every drop of blood that shed," he said in a message to the media.
With the latest deaths on Sunday, the total number of death of pro-democracy protestors at the hands of security forces reached 126, according to the AAPP. The security forces had also detained more than 2,150 people till Saturday while only about 300 have been released, it said.
An appeal to the United Nations member states for cutting down the supply of cash and weapons to the military of Myanmar was made by Tom Andrews, the United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar.
"Heartbroken/outraged at news of the largest number of protesters murdered by Myanmar security forces in a single day. Junta leaders don't belong in power, they belong behind bars," he said on Twitter.
(Source:www.channelnewsasia.com)
