Myanmar Coup's Death Toll Has Reached 300, 25 Percent Are Due To Headshot

Myanmar military and police in the face of anti-coup rallies. (Twitter/@yoonmay111)

JAKARTA - Nearly two months of Myanmar military coups that took place on February 1, the number of victims killed, injured, and residents detained continues to increase.

Data from advocacy groups and local media said that more than 300 people died during the Myanmar military anti-coup protests. Ironically, nearly 90 percent of the victims who died had fatal gunshot wounds.

The killing sparked outrage and sparked several sanctions given by Western countries, including the United States. The use of lethal force against civilians has also been criticized by ASEAN countries.

"Crimes against humanity are committed every day," said the group's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has recorded the death toll up to March 25 at 320 deaths, and nearly 3,000 people have been arrested, charged, or sentenced since the coup.

AAPP data shows that at least 25 percent of those killed died from headshots, raising suspicions that they were deliberately targeted for murder. Complete data are not available for every death.

"Everything points to troops adopting gunfire tactics to suppress the protests," Amnesty International said earlier this month.

Evacuation of victims of anti-coup demonstrations by the Myanmar military (Twitter/@MizzimaNews)

Nearly 90 percent of the victims killed were men. About 36 percent are aged 24 years and under. The youngest age of the victims was children, 7 years old, gunshot wounds in the stomach and the oldest was 78 years old. The maximum age range for the death toll for men was 18-24, followed by an age range of 25-34 and an age range of 35-44.

The youngest victim, seven-year-old Khin Myo Chit, was shot dead in Mandalay on Tuesday. He was at his home with his father when he was murdered.

Win Kyi, 78, is the oldest person on record and was among about 50 people killed in Yangon's Hlaing Thayar district on March 14, the bloodiest day so far.

The causes of death consisted of headshots, shots to the body, other gunshot wounds, deadly attacks (torture, sharp weapons, being hit by a car), and other causes.

Separately, Myanmar's military regime has denied using excessive force. They also said their actions met international norms in dealing with situations that were said to be a threat to national security.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Myanmar military regime expressed grief over the deaths of 164 demonstrators during the violence in the Land of a Thousand Pagodas.

However, the regime accused anti-coup protesters of destroying property and provoking riots. The regime also said nine security personnel were killed during rallies in various regions of Myanmar.

"We regret their losses because they are also our citizens. Strikes and hospitals that are not fully operational have caused death, including from COVID-19. They (protesters) are unwise and unethical," said a spokesman for the Myanmar military regime. Zaw Min Tun.

Myanmar Coup. The VOI editorial team continues to monitor the political situation in that one of the ASEAN member countries. Casualties from civilians continue to fall. Readers can follow the news covering the Myanmar military coup by clicking this link.