Six people were killed in the central town of Myaing when security forces fired on the protest, witnesses a man who participated in the protest and helped bring the bodies to hospital. A medical staff there confirmed all 6 people died.
“We protested peacefully,” said the 31-year-old man. “I can’t believe they did that [shooting people].”
In addition to the six people killed in Myaing, another one was also shot dead in the North Dagon district of Yangon, according to domestic media. Photos posted on Facebook show a man lying on his stomach on the street with a bloody head wound.
Earlier, the campaign group of the Supporting Political Prisoners Association said more than 60 protesters had been killed and about 2,000 had been detained by security forces since the February 1 coup against the government. was elected by Aung San Suu Kyi.
Amnesty International accused the military of using lethal force against protesters and said many of the killings were recorded as outlaw executions.
“These are not the actions of extreme individual officers with poor decisions,” said Joanne Mariner, Crisis Response Director at Amnesty International. “These are stubborn commanders who have been involved in crimes against humanity, they are deploying military and obvious methods of murder.”
A military spokesman declined to comment, but said there would be a press conference held by the army council in the capital Naypyitaw at 2 p.m. (7:30 GMT) on Thursday.
The military authorities earlier said they were acting with great restraint in handling what they described as “riot protests” with people “who attacked the police and harmed security. and national stability. “
Protests were also held in around six other towns, according to Facebook posts.
During the night, people also disregarded the curfew to hold more candle-lit prayers in many places in Yangon and in Myingyan, southwest of Mandalay.
In an effort to increase pressure on the military, the U.S. Treasury on Wednesday imposed sanctions on military leader Min Aung Hlaing’s two children and six companies it checked in. control.
The UN Security Council on Wednesday condemned violence against protesters and called on the military to “exercise full restraint”, yet the Security Council did not accuse the military takeover as a coup or threat of any subsequent action.
Reuters said the document drafted by the UK had deleted “sensitive” passages condemning the coup and threatening punishment due to protests from China, Russia, India and Vietnam.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped the Security Council statement would prompt the Myanmar military to realize “it is absolutely necessary” that all prisoners are released and the outcome of the operation November election is respected.
The military justified the coup by saying that the election, which Suu Kyi’s National Coalition for Democracy won, was rigged. The military government has promised to hold a new election within the next year, but has not set a date.
