Myanmar - The African Mirror

Mar

2021

Pope’s desperate plea for peace in Myanmar

MYANMAR’S most powerful Buddhist monks' association called on the junta to end violence against protesters and accused an "armed minority" of torture and killing innocent civilians since last month's coup, according to local media. In its most forthright condemnation of the military's bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrations, the government-appointed organisation also said in a draft statement its members intended to halt activities, in an apparent protest. The State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee planned to release a final statement after consulting the religious affairs minister on Thursday, the Myanmar Now news portal said, citing a monk who attended a meeting of…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

17 die in Myanmar’s Bloody Sunday

WORLD

SECURITY forces killed at least 14 protesters in a poor, industrial suburb of Myanmar's main city yesterday and at least three people in other parts of the country, according to local media. State television said a policeman had also been killed in one of the bloodiest days of protests against the February 1 coup. China's embassy called on Myanmar to protect its property and citizens after saying two Chinese-financed garment factories were set ablaze by unknown attackers. Protests are now in their sixth week since the coup toppled elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and plunged the Southeast Asian country…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

At least 12 killed in protests in Myanmar; civilian vice-president vows resistance to junta

WORLD

MYANMAR security forces killed at least 12 people, witnesses and media reported, as the acting leader of a civilian parallel government vowed in a first public address on Saturday to pursue a "revolution" to overturn the February 1 military coup. Five people were shot dead and several injured when police opened fire on a sit-in protest in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-biggest city, witnesses told Reuters. Another person was killed in the central town of Pyay and two died in police firing in the commercial capital Yangon, where three were also killed overnight, domestic media reported. "They are acting like they are…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Two protesters killed in Myanmar, shops and factories closed

WORLD

TWO demonstrators were killed by gunshot wounds to the head in Myanmar today, witnesses said, while shops, factories and banks were closed in the main city Yangon as part of the protests against the country's military rulers. Security forces were also deployed at hospitals and universities as part of efforts to enforce the law, state media said. It was not immediately clear who fired on the protesters in the northern town of Myitkyina, although both police and the military were at the scene, the witnesses said. Photos posted on Facebook showed the bodies of two men lying on the street.…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

Myanmar police open fire, kill one protester

WORLD

POLICE in Myanmar yesterday opened fire on protesters against last month's military coup, killing one man, as international condemnation rained down on the junta ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the crisis. The violence took place as the military lost a tussle over leadership of its U.N. mission in New York and the United States announced new sanctions targeting military conglomerates after the deaths of dozens of civilian protesters. Activists demanding the restoration of the elected government of veteran democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi held more demonstrations in several towns and cities, with a crowd…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

From homes and streets, Myanmar citizens record spiralling bloodshed

WORLD

"I was lucky not to die," Min Thura Zaw posted on his Facebook page with a video that shows a soldier aiming in his direction in Myanmar's main city and the sound of a bullet's crack. He ducked from the window and tumbled to safety on the floor of his apartment - all captured in one of the growing number of videos shot by householders using their mobile phones to record violence on the streets outside. "I wanted to record the inhumanity of the military, shooting at houses and even stray dogs," Min Thura Zaw told Reuters. "The soldier ...…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

No breakthrough on Myanmar crisis at Southeast Asian summit

WORLD

TOM ALLARD A summit of Southeast Asian states held yesterday to discuss the coup in Myanmar failed to find a breakthrough to get the nation back on the path to democracy after last month's military takeover, sources with knowledge of the meeting said. Speaking after foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) ended their virtual meeting, Indonesia's chief envoy Retno Marsudi urged the junta to allow the bloc to resolve escalating tensions. "It takes two to tango," she said after the meeting. "ASEAN's good intentions and readiness will be meaningless if Myanmar does not open its door."…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

In Myanmar, LGBT+ people join anti-coup protests with rainbow flags

LGBT+

GROWING up in rural Myanmar, Du Wun shunned the jewellery his mother pressed him to wear and dreaded ceremonies where he had to dress in a traditional htamein, a sarong-like garment for women. Du Wun, a transgender man, was bullied as a teenager and disowned by his parents. He only began to accept his gender identity when he connected with other LGBT+ people - a lifeline he fears is under threat following a Feb. 1 military coup. "I was intimidated and ashamed about my identity," said Du Wun, 26, who decided to quit his job as a teacher in 2016…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

At least 18 killed in Myanmar on bloodiest day of protests against coup

WORLD

MYANMAR police fired on protesters around the country yesterday in the bloodiest day of weeks of demonstrations against a military coup and at least 18 people were killed, the U.N. human rights office said. Police were out in force early and opened fire in different parts of the biggest city of Yangon after stun grenades, tear gas and shots in the air failed to break up crowds. Soldiers also reinforced police. Several wounded people were hauled away by fellow protesters, leaving bloody smears on pavements, media images showed. One man died after being brought to a hospital with a bullet…

Feb

2021

By The African Mirror

Supporters of Myanmar military coup rampage in Yangon

WORLD

SUPPORTERS of Myanmar's military, some armed with knives and clubs, others firing catapults and throwing stones, attacked opponents of the February 1 coup yesterday, as protests against the new junta continued in the country's largest city. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power and detained civilian government leader Aung San Suu Kyi and much of her party leadership after the military complained of fraud in a November election. Protests and strikes have taken place daily for about three weeks, and students had planned to come out again in the commercial hub Yangon on Thursday. But before many…