Myanmar Military Regime Kills 998 Civilians, AAPP: The Real Number Is Much Higher

Illustration of army soldiers of the Myanmar military regime. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - Nearly 1,000 civilians were killed by Myanmar regime forces in less than 200 days, as decisive action was taken to quell opposition to the February 1 coup.

Last month, at least 92 civilians were killed by the regime including teenagers, student activists, protesters, members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and their family members, bystanders, passersby and villagers, according to the Association for Assistance to Political Prisoners (AAPP), quotes The Irrawaddy August 17.

Last month's figures included the military regime's massacre of 40 people in Myanmar's resistance stronghold in Kani Township, Sagaing Region during raids on villages in the township. The township has experienced several massacres, as the military has stepped up anti-opposition operations.

Villagers who fled the operation said when they returned to the village they found nearly 40 bodies, including a 14-year-old boy and 11 other men who were arrested by the Myanmar military on July 26 and 27.

The number of detainees being tortured to death by the Myanmar military regime has also continued to rise with at least 10 others killed in detention over the past month and a half. The AAPP stated in its latest report that as of Monday 16 August, 998 people had been killed by junta forces, including several killed while detained. "This is a number verified by the AAPP, the actual death toll is likely much higher," the AAPP said.

The current corona virus outbreak is also said to be one of the weapons 'against' anti-coup critics. This happened to political prisoners in prisons, where many political prisoners died of the corona virus in prisons.

More than 7,300 people including elected leaders, NLD party members, election commissioners, doctors, protesters, journalists, writers, artists and civilians have been detained.

Despite the killings and arrests, people across Myanmar continue to take to the streets to protest against military rule and demand the return of democratically elected civilian rule.

The Myanmar Coup. The editor of VOI continues to monitor the political situation in one of the ASEAN member countries. Civilian casualties continue to fall. Readers can follow news about the Myanmar military coup by tapping this link.