Myanmar security forces deliberately killed 65 protesters in March, rights group finds
- Human Rights Watch said interviews and analyses of videos and photographs found security forces purposely used lethal force on crowds in Yangon on March 14
- It said the actions ‘constitute the crime against humanity of murder’ and called on the perpetrators to be brought to justice
Human Rights Watch accused security forces of deliberately encircling and using lethal force against crowds in Yangon’s working class neighbourhood of Hlaing Tharyar that were demonstrating against the military’s February 1 seizure of power from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
“Soldiers and police armed with military assault rifles fired on trapped protesters and on those trying to assist the wounded, killing at least 65 protesters and bystanders,” said the New York-based organisation.
The military-installed government, which imposed martial law in the area after the violence, has described the protesters as “rioters” who burned down garment factories and blocked firefighters.
Human Right’s Watch said no action is known to have been taken against any members of the security forces. No government official was immediately available for comment.
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Human Rights Watch’s Myanmar researcher Manny Maung said the security forces’ actions “constitute the crime against humanity of murder”.