Myanmar Military Coup, Another Civilian Shot Killed

Myanmar military anti-coup rally (Twitter / @ CubaconAmalia)

JAKARTA - The Myanmar Military Coup has claimed another death toll. This time, a civilian guarding the environment, was shot dead in the early hours of Sunday local time in Yangon.

Launching The Irrawaddy, this man was part of a civilian group guarding the area where he lived during the curfew. As previously reported, residents have held night guard or patrol, because in the past week there have been many mysterious people hanging around during curfew.

For no apparent reason and allowed by the security forces, these people were suspected of being a group of thugs who were released by the military regime from detention and deliberately created unrest and riots. Apart from destroying, burning houses and attacking several areas, they also 'disguised themselves' as monks but carried out vandalism in several areas.

The man who was killed is said to have been questioning a suspicious van that roamed during the curfew in the Shwe Pyithar Township area of Yangon. He was said to have been shot by the police for stopping the van.

This is the fourth death toll during the Myanmar military coup. Earlier, a girl named Ma Mya Thwet Thwet Khine (or Ma Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing) died on Friday 19 February, after receiving treatment for 10 days after being shot in the head.

Then, on Saturday 20 January afternoon, two people were shot dead in the head and chest, after security forces stormed the shipyard in Maha Aung Myay Township, to break up a demonstration or national insurrection (CDM) by shipyard workers.

U Than Myat Soe, chief executive of the Kanaung Institute, a Mandalay-based non-governmental organization that works to promote democracy and public participation in government, told The Irrawaddy that four men were shot with air guns. One of them was hospitalized in critical condition after being pierced in the lungs by a lead bullet fired from an air rifle.

“They (security forces) acted (without law) in cracking down on anti-coup demonstrations. The military junta is now carrying out criminal cases, "he said.

The Political Prisoners Assistance Association (AAPP) said the military regime has also been arresting anti-coup protesters every day.

As of Saturday, 569 people including officials, leaders and parliamentarians from the National League for Democracy (NLD), political activists, artists, monks, writers, anti-coup protesters and government staff involved in the CDM have been arrested.

"The military regime must stop violence against people," said AAP member Ko Aung Myo Kyaw.

With Date & Time! Fake Monk caught on CCTV! Location: ShweBo City, MyanmarTime: Feb 14, 2021Caught from home CCTV! #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar @MayzulyH @freya_cole pic.twitter.com/o1QcM7i4O2

- Khin Myint Myat Thu (@khin_mmt) February 18, 2021