After a huge vandalizing and setting up of Chinese-financed factories on fire on Sunday, the security forces in Myanmar killed 22 anti-coup protestors in the poor, industrial Hlaingthaya suburb of Myanmar’s main city. 16 other protestors including a police officer were also killed at other places, said the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).
The protests that led to the bloodiest day are going on Since February 1 when coup against the elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi was imposed in the country.
Following the arson attacks in Chinese factories the Chinese embassy in the state said that many Chinese staff were injured and many are feared to be trapped in the ablaze properties. The embassy also urged the Myanmar authority to protect the Chinese properties and its citizens.
Myanmar thinks that China is in support of Military Junta which has won the power.
With plumes of smoke the security forces started its firing on the protestors in suburb, reported local media in Myanmar.
“It was horrible. People were shot before my eyes. It will never leave my memory,” a photojournalist at the place of the incident said. Martial law was imposed in Hlaningthaya and Yangon districts, informed a state media.
A television channel owned by Army said, security forces took action when four garment factories and a fertilizer plant were set ablaze with over 2,000 people stopping fire engines to reach out to the burning spots.
A representative of elected lawmakers, Doctor Sasa voicing out his voice with the people of Hlaingthaya said, “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”.
According to AAPP, the death toll may mount to 126 with the latest deaths in the protests. More than 2,150 people have been arrested so far, with releasing of 300 since then.
Without any comments on killings the Chinese embassy called the situation as “very severe” when the protestors set up the Chinese properties on ablaze.
“China urges Myanmar to take further effective measures to stop all acts of violence, punish the perpetrators in accordance with the law and ensure the safety of life and property of Chinese companies and personnel in Myanmar,” said a statement from Chinese embassy.
However, no particular group took the blame of setting up of the factories on fire.
The Facebook page of the embassy was full of hateful comments in Myanmar language with over 29,000 people using laughing emoji.
However, a protest leader Ei Thinzar Maung taking to her Facebook page said, only two Chinese factories have been burnt so far. She also said, “If you want to do business in Myanmar stably, then respect Myanmar people”.
Calling the killings by the security forces horrifying the British Ambassador Dan Chugg said, “We call for an immediate cessation of this violence and for the military regime to hand back power to those democratically elected by the people of Myanmar”.
The Myanmar Army said that it took power in the case after the accusations of fraud by the electoral commission in the November elections which gave power to the Suu Kyi’s party.
Although, the electoral body had said to conduct new election for which the date has not set yet. The elected leader Suu Kyi has been in detention since February 1, when the coup was imposed. It has promised to hold a new election, but has not set a date. Suu Kyi has been detained since the coup and is due to return to court on Monday.
She is expected to be in court today as she faces minimum four charges that include breaching of coronavirus guidelines and illegal use of walkie-talkie radios.
The violence erupted a day after when the Mahn Win Khaing Than, an opposition leader to the Suu Kyi’s Democratic Party said that the civilian government will give the people a legal right to defend themselves.
