A protester is holding the shirt of a comrade who fell during a crackdown by security forces in demonstrations against the military coup in Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon, on March 14, 2021.
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Security forces killed at least 14 protesters in a poor, industrial suburb of Myanmar’s main city on Sunday and at least three people in other parts of the country, according to local media.
State television said a policeman had also been killed in one of the bloodiest days of protests against the February 1 coup.
The Chinese embassy called on Myanmar to protect its property and citizens after saying two Chinese-funded garment factories were set on fire by unknown attackers.
The smoke rises as protests continue against the military coup and the arrest of elected members of the government in Hlaing Thar Yar Municipality, Yangon, Myanmar, on March 14, 2021.
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Protests are now in their sixth week since the coup overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and overwhelmed the Southeast Asian country, with the economy paralyzed by strikes by opponents of the takeover. possession of the army.
The violence came a day after Mahn Win Khaing Than, fleeing along with most senior officials from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, said the civilian government would try to give people the legal right to defend yourself.
Security forces opened fire on protesters in the city’s Hlaingthaya district, a poor suburb that houses migrants from across the country, national media reported. Black smoke plumes rose through the area.
Myanmar Now said at least 14 protesters had been killed, according to the local hospital and a rescue worker.
“An official from Hlaingthaya Hospital said the number of dead and injured was still arriving,” his report says. Other Myanmar media gave even higher tolls in the area.
Security forces guard during a demonstration of protesters against the military coup in Hlaing Tharyar Township, Yangon, on March 14, 2021.
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MRTV state television said martial law had been imposed on the district. A board spokesman did not respond to calls asking for comments.
Dr. Sasa, a representative of the elected legislators of the assembly who was dismissed by the army, expressed his solidarity with the people of the district.
“The perpetrators, attackers, enemies of the people of Myanmar, the evil SAC (State Administrative Council) will be responsible for every drop of blood they shed,” he said in a message.
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Protesters use fire extinguishers during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, on March 14, 2021.
China says the factories burned down
Myanmar Now cited residents who said three factories caught fire in Hlaingthaya. It was unclear whether two China-funded garment factories were included, which Chinese state news service CGTN said were burned.
CGTN cited that the Chinese embassy in Myanmar had called for help.
“China urges Myanmar to take more effective measures to stop all acts of violence, punish perpetrators in accordance with the law and ensure the safety of life and property of Chinese companies and personnel in Myanmar,” he said. states in the statement.
It was said that the perpetrators had not been identified.
Opponents of the coup have criticized China for not coming out stronger against the takeover of the army as Western countries have done. China has said that the priority is stability and that it is an internal matter of Myanmar.
A man uses a slingshot during the security takeover against protesters against the coup in Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 14, 2021.
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At least three deaths were reported elsewhere in Myanmar on Sunday, including the second city of Mandalay and Bago, where state television MRTV said a police officer had died from a chest wound after a clash with protesters .
He is the second policeman killed in the protests.
The latest deaths would increase the number of protests to nearly 100, while the advocacy group of the Political Prisoners Assistance Association had said more than 2,100 had also been arrested on Saturday.
Suu Kyi will have to return to court on Monday. He faces at least four charges, including illegal use of walkie-talkie radios and violation of coronavirus protocols.
The army said it took power after the election commission rejected its allegations of fraud in the Nov. 8 election won by Suu Kyi’s party. He has promised to hold new elections, but has not set a date.
Reuters staff reports; Written by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Edited by William Mallard, Tom Hogue and David Clarke