Twenty-three people were reportedly killed in Myanmar on Monday, as the junta intensified its attacks on anti-regime protesters. The protest-related death toll since the military’s Feb. 1 coup had reached 191 on Monday night, with tens of thousands of protesters continuing to take to the streets across the country.
The Irrawaddy confirmed 15 deaths early Monday evening from several cities including Magwe Region’s Aunglan Township, Bago Region’s Gyobingauk and Bago Townships, Sagain Region’s Monywa Township and Mandalay Region’s Thabeikkyin and Myingyan Townships.
Eight more protest-related deaths were reported late Monday evening in Myingyan and Thabeikkyin in Mandalay region and Dawbon and South Dagon Townships in Yangon, as riot police and soldiers continued their crackdown on anti-coup protesters.
In Yangon’s Dawbon Township, security forces attacked a night-time protest and shot one person dead and injured several others. A video showed soldiers shooting a man, removing his clothes and dragging him away, while firing shots at the neighborhood.
A man was also shot dead and at least three people injured when police and soldiers opened fire in Yangon’s South Dagon Township at around 11pm on Monday.
Other clashes between protesters and security forces took place in Hlaing Tharyar and Insein Townships in Yangon, with shots fired in both places on Monday night.
Monday’s deaths come after Myanmar recorded its bloodiest day since the Feb. 1 coup on Sunday.
At least 73 protesters were killed on Sunday during crackdowns on anti-regime demonstrations across nine Yangon townships: Hlaing Tharyar, Shwepyithar, North Okkalapa, South Dagon, Insein, Hlaing, Thingangyun, Kyimyindaing and North Dagon, as well as in Bago Region, Mandalay Region and Hpakant in Kachin State.
Of Sunday’s 73 deaths, around 40 were reported in Yangon’s Hlaing Tharyar Township.
The increasing number of protesters dying at the hands of the security forces prompted the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Antonio Guterres, to issue a statement on Monday urging the international community to work collectively and bilaterally to help bring an end to the military regime’s repression.
Guterres said that the killing of protesters, arbitrary arrest and the reported torture of prisoners violate fundamental human rights and stand in clear defiance of calls by the UN’s Security Council for restraint, dialogue and a return to Myanmar’s democratic path.
He also urged the military regime to allow the UN’s special envoy to visit Myanmar to calm the situation and set the stage for dialogue.
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