In Myanmar, protesters on streets again, 3 shot dead

Myanmar’s security forces have shot and killed three more protesters in a country that has been witnessing a vivid public display of anger against the military since it took power in a coup early February.

Anti-coup protesters took to the streets in one of the most turbulent neighborhoods of Yangon, where the military shot and killed a young man on Saturday, a resident and media reported.

Two people were also killed when soldiers opened fire overnight in the northern ruby-mining town of Mogok, the Myanmar Now news portal reported. Those shot were night guards, according to the portal.

"One died on the spot last night while two others are in critical condition in the hospital," a rescue team member confirmed to AFP.

The military ousted a civilian government and arrested de facto leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi and other political leaders in the coup d’état.

Security forces, made up of police and military personnel, have since intensified crackdown on dissent.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners activist group says in the six weeks of unrest at least 238 people have died.

In the northern state of Shan, protesters wielded home-made shields that read “protect unarmed civilians.”

In Dawei, motorists hoisted posters of Suu Kyi and signs that read, “End the dictatorship.”

The international community has repeatedly called for the release of the detained leaders and urged the restoration of the civilian government. It has also urged the junta to stop the use of lethal force against the anti-coup protesters.

The military regime has, however, defied global calls for restraint and maintained its use of lethal force.

On Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was quoted by his spokesman as saying, “The military continues to defy calls, including by the Security Council, to end violations of fundamental human rights and return to the path of democracy.”

UN rapporteur on Myanmar Tom Andrews has called for sanctions against the military.

“The world must respond by cutting their access to money and weapons. Now,” he wrote on Twitter.

In a related development, Facebook banned all pages linked to the military over guidelines on inciting violence.

Twitter also said on Saturday it had suspended the Myanmar Information Ministry’s page under the company’s “platform manipulation and spam policy.”

The ministry has been posting news daily.

Amnesty International said earlier that the military was using increasingly lethal tactics and weapons against peaceful protesters and bystanders.

The military has deployed battle-hardened troops — documented to have committed human rights abuses in conflict areas — to the streets, according to Amnesty.

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