Myanmar woman who was shot in head during anti-coup protest dies
- Mya Thwet Thwet Khine had been on life support after she was shot during a demonstration in the capital Naypyidaw on February 9
- Meanwhile, opponents of the military have welcome sanctions on generals as protesters gathered for a 14th day of demonstrations
Mya Thwet Thwet Khine was shot during a demonstration in the capital Naypyidaw on February 9. She had been on life support at a hospital with what doctors had said was no chance of recovery.
Video of the shooting showed her sheltering from water cannons and suddenly dropping to the ground after a bullet penetrated a motorcycle helmet she had been wearing.
The woman is the first confirmed death among the protesters who have faced off with security forces after a junta took power February 1, detained Myanmar’s elected leaders and prevented Parliament from convening.
Her brother, Ye Htut Aung, who spoke to the AP from a mortuary, said she died at 11.05am on Friday. A source at Naypyidaw’s 1000-Bed General Hospital, speaking on condition on anonymity because of fear of harassment from the authorities, confirmed the death.
A spokesman for the ruling military at a news conference this week did not deny the 19-year-old woman had been shot by security forces, but said she was one of the crowd that had thrown rocks at police, and the case was under investigation. There were no independent accounts of her taking part in any violence.