The victims fell according to local media and witnesses in protests across the country. In Yangon, at least four people were killed when security forces opened fire on a crowd demonstrating at a police station, and three killed in protests in the Insein district. Thirteen people died in Mandalay. Sagaing, Lashio and Bago were also killed. According to the independent news site Myanmar Now a total of at least 90 people would have died. These numbers could not be officially confirmed.
According to the Karen National Union (KNU), an ethnic armed movement that sided with protesters against the coup, government army bombers also targeted a Karen village near the Thai border on Saturday. Several people were said to have died. The harsh military crackdown in Myanmar led to severe convictions worldwide on Saturday. The United Nations called it the “bloodiest day” since the military takeover in February, calling the deadly violence “completely unacceptable.”
The military junta had announced in an official warning on Friday that security forces would be allowed to counteract disturbances on Army Day by shooting protesters in the head or in the back. Opposition groups had promised to use the national holiday for additional mass demonstrations and actions of civil disobedience. It is the first time that the junta has spoken out about targeting protesters. Until now it has been pretended that the deaths were mainly caused by violence by activists.
‘Hand in hand’
General Min Aung Hlaing, leader of the junta, tried to justify the Feb. 1 coup against the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a speech broadcast live on national TV during the traditional army parade in the capital, Naypyitaw, on Saturday. He said the regime will relinquish power to a civilian government and call new elections to that end, without specifying a date. The army said the government was impeached for fraud in the November election.
“The military will work hand in hand with the entire nation to protect democracy,” said Min Aung Hlaing, who made no explicit reference in his speech to the popular protests that have been going on for nearly two months. He did call ‘violent acts’ that affect the stability and security of the state unacceptable.
Army Day commemorates local resistance to the Japanese occupation during World War II, initiated by General Aung San, Myanmar’s national hero and father of the now deposed Aung San Suu Kyi. The usual military parade is invariably attended by foreign officers and diplomats. This year, only eight delegations made an appearance, including those from Russia and China, key allies of the junta. They previously blocked sanctions against Myanmar in the UN Security Council.
“Today is a day of shame for the armed forces,” said Dr. Sasa, spokesman for CRPH, a group of deposed parliamentarians, in an internet post. “The generals are celebrating Army Day after killing more than 300 innocent civilians.” According to political prisoner activist group AAPP, clashes between pro-democracy protesters and security forces have killed nearly 380 since the February coup. At least a quarter of them would have been shot in the head, according to AAPP.
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