Myanmar: Deadly protests erupt as coup leaders mark Armed Forces Day
Myanmar’s security forces have opened fire on protesters as the leaders of its coup marked Armed Forces Day.
Protesters took to the streets of Yangon and other cities. Some reports say 50 have been shot dead.
Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing said in a national TV address on Saturday that he would “safeguard democracy”, promising elections but giving no timetable.
More than 320 people have been killed in the suppression of protests since the military seized power in February.
State TV warned in a separate broadcast on Friday that people “should learn from the tragedy of earlier ugly deaths that you can be in danger of getting shot to the head and back”.
What is happening on the streets?
Anti-coup activists had called for major demonstrations on Saturday, despite the military’s threat to use deadly force against them.
Security forces were out in strength, trying to prevent rallies, particularly in Yangon.
The number of deaths is difficult to confirm. News site The Irrawaddy said that 59 people, including three children, had been killed in 28 locations.
Myanmar Now said at least 50 people had been killed, including four outside a police station in the Dala suburb of Yangon.
Deaths were also reported on the streets of the second-largest city Mandalay, as protesters carried the flag of the National League for Democracy (NLD), the party of Myanmar’s detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and gave their now traditional anti-authoritarian three-finger salute.
One journalist told AFP news agency police had used live ammunition against protesters in the north-eastern city of Lashio.
Dr Sasa, a spokesman for anti-junta group CRPH, told Reuters: “Today is a day of shame for the armed forces, The military generals are celebrating Armed Forces Day after they just killed more than 300 innocent civilians.”