Myanmar coup: security forces must ‘stop murdering protesters’, UN urges after deadliest day
- Protesters returned to the streets on Thursday after 38 died on the bloodiest day since the February 1 coup ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government
- ‘Yesterday was horrific … it was devastating to learn the military in Myanmar has never changed since 1962,’ one activist said
At least 54 people have been killed and more than 1,700 detained since Myanmar’s February 1 coup, the UN rights chief said on Thursday, demanding the military halt its “vicious crackdown”.
“Myanmar’s military must stop murdering and jailing protesters,” Michelle Bachelet said in a statement, insisting it was “utterly abhorrent that security forces are firing live ammunition against peaceful protesters across the country”.
At least 38 people died on Wednesday, according to the UN, when online images streamed out of Myanmar showing security forces firing into crowds and blood-covered bodies of protesters with bullet wounds in their heads.
“Yesterday was horrific … it was devastating to learn the military in Myanmar has never changed since 1962,” said activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi. But “resistance is now our duty”, she said, pledging to protest every day.
In response to the violence, Singapore’s government on Thursday advised its citizens in Myanmar to leave the country.
Meanwhile, armed Myanmar soldiers and police have been using TikTok to deliver death threats to protesters against last month’s coup, researchers said, prompting the Chinese video-sharing app to announce it was removing content that incites violence.