Myanmar army kills at least 60 protesters on military holiday | NOW

What’s going on in Myanmar again?

• The army in Myanmar staged a coup on Feb. 1, seizing power in the country at the expense of the government.
• The military claims that the elections (in which the military-backed party lost) were unfair. Government leader Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested.
• According to observers, the polls were indeed fair.
• Since the coup, the Myanmarese have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the military junta. The military is responding more and more violently to the protests.

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The army carried out several raids early on Saturday morning (local time) in an attempt to nip the protest in the bud. In addition to the sixty deaths, at least ten were injured. “They kill us as if we were birds or chickens, even at home,” said an eyewitness. “But we will continue to protest until the junta gives up.”

The rulers already warned on Friday that troops could shoot protesters in the head or in the back.

At least 320 activists have been killed so far in clashes with the armed forces, a local organization reported earlier Friday. At least 25 percent of the dead died from shots to the head, leading to suspicion that they were targeted.

‘Acts of terrorism are unacceptable’

While troops carried torches and flags and marched alongside army vehicles, junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing again defended the coup and vowed to return power after new elections. He pointed out that “acts of terrorism that could be detrimental to the peace and security of the state” are unacceptable.

The military holiday, which commemorates the beginning of local resistance to the Japanese occupation during World War II, is usually accompanied by a military parade attended by foreign officers and diplomats.

However, the junta has struggled to gain international recognition since taking control of Myanmar and said eight international delegations attended the parade on Saturday. Below that would be China and Russia.

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