Myanmar Military Regime Increasingly Repressive, Umbar Shots At Protesters Against Coup

JAKARTA - Dozens of anti-coup protesters were injured and arrested by the military regime, all day and night on Friday, February 26 yesterday.

Armed with bat and firing rubber bullets, riot police cracked down hard on protesters in various major cities in the Land of a Thousand Pagodas.

The repressive actions of the Myanmar military regime began in Yangon, after midday yesterday, reported The Irrawaddy. In Myaynigone, police moved forward, banging their shields with batons, forcing protesters to retreat.

Unlike previous days, they then hunted down protesters while continuing to fire into the air as well as shots with rubber bullets, arresting the protesters, including a Japanese journalist, Yuki Kitazumi, who was later released.

In Hledan, Yangon police stormed seats under a pedestrian bridge, beating several young protesters with batons. Around 3pm, they beat protesters back, firing continuously into the crowd, injuring several protesters.

Civilians in Hledan and Myaynigone opened their doors to retreat from protesters and journalists, saving some of them from attack or capture by security forces.

The exact number of those injured and arrested was not available until Friday evening. However, it is believed to involve dozens of people.

In Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, riot police and soldiers continue to rely on violence against protesters.

Four people were seriously injured by gunfire which people believe came from live ammunition. At least 10 more people, including a four-year-old boy, were injured in the beatings and slingshots.

Toward evening on Friday, a number of people were anxiously waiting at the gates of the San Chaung Police Station in Myaynigone. They are family members of several of the protesters who were detained during the day.

The parents of the detained high school child told The Irrawaddy that they had just found out about their son's arrest.

"He's not a protester. He just came back from the market where he sold some goods and was caught by them, ”said one parent whose child was arrested.

Meanwhile, a network of Myanmar lawyers trying to help detained students said a total of eight students were detained at the police station.

"Access to detainees for legal consultation was denied by the police, as was food delivery. We do not yet know the charges and whether they can be released on bail," said the attorney's statement.