Local media in Myanmar “Citizens struck seriously”… Mobilization of rubber bullets and water cannons

Police shooting water cannons at protesters in Naepido, the capital of Myanmar. [AFP=연합뉴스]

A fourth day of protests against the coup military forces in Myanmar, Myanmar police even mobilized water cannons and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. There is also a growing concern about the spread of a’blood situation’ as the local media have even claimed that the police shot live ammunition.

According to foreign media such as AFP news agency on the 9th (local time), the Myanmar police fired water cannons, rubber bullets, and tear gas at the protesters in the capital Naepido to forcibly disperse. AFP quoted a witness and said, “The police fired a warning fire in the air and then fired a rubber bullet.” It is said that at least four people were injured in the process.

Protesters against the military coup in Myanmar hold a photo against Supreme Commander Min Aung Hlaing. [AFP=연합뉴스]

The Bloomberg news agency also said 20 people were injured and two were in serious condition. In this regard, the local media’Myanmar Now’ quoted an anonymous doctor and reported that “a 30-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman who were protesting in Naepido were in serious condition after being shot by the police.” The Associated Press also said, “Unconfirmed rumors are spreading that some of the demonstrators were shot and killed.” Foreign media added that the exact number of injured people and the degree of injuries could not be known because the hospitals in Nefido did not allow visits.

In Mandalay, the second city where martial law was imposed the day before, at least 27 people, including one reporter, were arrested by the police. Bloomberg reported that water cannons and tear gas were also mobilized in Mandalay. Min Koh Naing, who led the democratization movement in the late 1980s, issued a statement on this day and appealed for unity, saying, “Let’s continue to hold a general strike for three weeks.”

Myanmar protesters confront the police. [AFP=연합뉴스]

Earlier, Myanmar’s military initiated a coup on the 1st when the Democratic Peoples Alliance (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s state adviser won the general election last November. The cause was that there was cheating during the election process, but the government did not properly investigate it. Protests to protest against this are continuing in Naepido, Mandalay and Yangon.

Reporter Kim Sun-mi [email protected]