ND Burma
ND-Burma formed in 2004 in order to provide a way for Burma human rights organizations to collaborate on the human rights documentation process. The 13 ND-Burma member organizations seek to collectively use the truth of what communities in Burma have endured to advocate for justice for victims. ND-Burma trains local organizations in human rights documentation; coordinates members’ input into a common database using Martus, a secure open-source software; and engages in joint-advocacy campaigns.
Recent Posts
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- PRESS STATEMENT: CIVIL SOCIETY CALLS FOR DISASTER RELIEF FOR EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS AND AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN MYANMAR
- AAPP Launches its New Report on Justice, the Judiciary and the Weaponization of Law to Repress Civilians in Burma
- Junta offensives leave 4 dead, thousands displaced in northwest Myanmar
- Open letter: Special Envoy’s conflicts of interest signal urgent need for investigation and complete end of mandate
At Least Nine Protesters Shot Dead in Three Cities in Myanmar
/in NewsBy THE IRRAWADDY 3 March 2021
YANGON—At least nine protesters were killed and several wounded in three cities in Myanmar as police fired live rounds and rubber bullets at anti-coup protesters on Wednesday morning.
In Mandalay, a 19-year-old female protester was shot in the neck and another man was shot in the chest. Both died on the spot. Another man also died from a gunshot.
In Myingyan, Mandalay Region, a 14-year-old protester also reportedly died after being shot in the head and at least a dozen protesters were wounded by gunshots.
At least five were shot dead in a violent crackdown by riot police and soldiers on an anti-coup protest in the morning in Monywa city in Sagaing Region, locals told The Irrawaddy. Of them, 25-year-old Ma Kyawt Nandar Aung was shot in the head and died on the spot.
Her sister told The Irrawaddy that Ma Kyawt Nandar Aung together with her siblings had participated in protests against the military regime for several days on the frontline. When the incident happened, her younger sister was also at the frontline of the protest.
“She is still too young to leave,” her sister, who was crying over the phone, told The Irrawaddy. “She was so brave. I take her death as something to be proud of.”
She added that she and her remaining siblings will continue to take to the streets to fight for democracy until victory is achieved, to compensate for their sister’s death.
The military regime has ramped up the crackdown on mass protests nationwide. At least 21 protesters were reported killed in shootings by police and soldiers from Feb. 1 to March 2.
Besides the three cities, protests in Yangon, Magwe and Mandalay regions and Kachin state were also cracked down upon on Wednesday. Several people were shot and wounded, and a number detained during the crackdowns.
In Yangon’s Tamwe Township, at least 200 protesters, mostly young people, were detained on Wednesday at noon. Soldiers forced them to stand in the midday sun near the township’s police station before pushing them into army trucks.
Security forces stage deadly crackdown, leaving at least 16 people dead
/in NewsSix people were killed in Yangon’s North Okkalapa Township and at least 18 are in a critical condition after security forces opened fire with live rounds, while deaths were also reported in Mandalay, Monywa and Myingyan.
By FRONTIER
At least 16 people were killed today when security forces fired on pro-democracy protesters with live rounds as multiple rallies across the country descended into brutal violence.
Yangon endured its deadliest day yet since the February 1 coup, with doctors at North Okkalapa Hospital confirming to Frontier that at least six men had been shot dead by security forces. All were aged under 30 and three had died from shots to the head, they said.
In some areas, neighbourhoods held candlelight memorials for the victims. About 100 residents gathered on Baho Road near Shwe Laung Street and lit candles on the ground to honour the fallen protesters before singing the revolutionary anthem “Kabar Ma Kyay Bu”.
The number of gunshot victims in North Okkalapa was so high that striking medical workers decided to return to work to reopen the township hospital. When Frontier visited the hospital, at least 18 people were in a critical condition. Dozens more were injured throughout the day, some of whom sought treatment at the Free Funeral Service Society.
Two of the deaths occurred when police and members of the Tatmadaw’s 77th Light Infantry Division broke up a protest at the North Okkalapa roundabout with teargas, rubber bullets and live rounds at 10:30am.
The rest were killed in the afternoon and evening. Security forces staged a major crackdown on demonstrators around 5pm, firing live rounds. A video on social media shows two men being shot in the middle of Thudhamma Road, and the sound of an automatic weapon can be heard. In the video, fellow protesters carry the limp bodies of the men and put them into a car before building a small memorial around the large pool of blood on the road and singing a revolutionary song.
Many people were also arrested in Yangon and subject to shocking treatment at the hands of police. Frontier witnessed police beating several protesters during the morning crackdown in North Okkalapa. At one point, officers kicked and dragged the limp body of a wounded protester. “This is from military boots,” a man told our reporter, pointing to wounds he said were inflicted by seven police officers and soldiers at the North Okkalapa roundabout.
Security forces also staged deadly crackdowns on peaceful protesters in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city. A doctor who treated victims there told Frontier that three people were killed when police and military personnel cracked down on a sit-in protest at the corner of 30th and 84th Streets around 12:45pm.
Thousands had gathered at the spot in Chan Aye Thar Zan Township earlier that morning, including members of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions, teachers and residents.
At around 10am, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, but there were no reports of injuries. People gathered at the same place shortly afterwards and resumed their sit-in protest. Several hours later, security forces opened fire with live rounds. One of the victims was a 19-year-old woman who had been shot in the head.
The Sagaing Region capital of Monywa registered at least six deaths after security forces opened fire on peaceful protesters that had gathered on Union Road to protest against military rule. A 25-year-old eyewitness said they fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds at protesters.
Four men and two women were killed, including a schoolteacher in her 40s. At least 30 people were injured.
“They shot live rounds and many people were injured,” the man told Frontier.
However, an emergency doctor said the death toll was even higher. “What we can confirm is seven people have died,” said the doctor, who declined to provide his name to AFP.
Multiple medics also said they saw two other individuals being dragged away by security forces, though they could not get close enough to confirm if they had died.
A protest in Myingyan also turned deadly when security forces deployed tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds against protesters carrying red home-made shields emblazoned with the three-finger salute – a symbol of resistance for the anti-coup movement.
Several medics confirmed a young man was gunned down.
“Zin Ko Ko Zaw, a 20-year-old, was shot dead on the spot,” a rescue team member said, adding that his team had treated 17 people from the protest. – Additional reporting by AFP
Myanmar’s Military Council Labeled ‘Terrorist Group’
/in NewsBy THE IRRAWADDY 2 March 2021
The CRPH, the committee representing the elected lawmakers of the ousted National League for Democracy, labeled Myanmar’s military governing body, the State Administrative Council (SAC), as a “terrorist group” on Monday for its lawlessness in arresting democratically elected leaders and for terrorizing protesters with killings and violence.
The announcement followed the nationwide bloody Sunday crackdown on peaceful protesters by the police and soldiers, which left at least 18 dead, according to the United Nations.
Since the Feb. 1 coup, 23 people, aged 17 to 59, have been killed, according to media reports and relatives’ testimony.
The military seized power from the democratically elected government on Feb. 1 and detained civilian leaders and pro-democracy activists.
The CRPH (Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) said the military’s action is “in contravention of the existing laws”.
The military established the SAC with generals and few members from political parties, which had been defeated in the November general election. It changed the law, removing privacy legislation and freedom of expression and threatened to arrest anyone insulting the SAC.
Since the Feb. 1 coup, more than 1,000 people have been detained.
The CRHP said it “condemns in the strongest terms all atrocities and acts of terrorism committed by the putschists”.
The illegitimate putschists’ crimes include shooting live rounds, explosives, rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons at protesters. They beat and arrest peaceful protesters, civil servants taking part in the civil disobedience movement, activists, community leaders and students, said the committee.
“Such crimes amount to the declaration of war on unarmed civilians.”
In late February protesters began using shields and making barricades to defend their neighborhoods from the authorities.
“Due to the atrocities and acts of terrorism of the military, streets and communities across Myanmar have become battlefields. There have been many civilian fatalities and the life, liberty and security of the people are under constant threats due to the acts of terrorism committed by the illegitimate military council,” said the CRPH.
UN Leads International Condemnation of Bloody Crackdowns in Myanmar
/in NewsBy NYEIN NYEIN 1 March 2021
The UN, Japan, Canada and the European Union have strongly condemned the Myanmar military’s bloody crackdowns on civilians participating in anti-regime protests on the weekend.
Myanmar police and soldiers shot dead at least 18 people during the Sunday crackdowns against peaceful protesters across the country, according to the OHCHR, the UN’s human rights office. Since the military seized power from the country’s democratically elected government on Feb. 1, exactly a month ago, it has detained more than 1,000 people.
World leaders expressed deep concern about Myanmar’s current situation and called on the military to immediately halt its use of force against civilians and respect their rights to freedom of expression and assembly.
They also urged the international community to unite in condemning the military’s violent actions.
Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said in a statement on Sunday that Guterres “strongly condemns” the violent crackdowns in Myanmar.
“He is deeply disturbed by the increase in deaths and serious injuries. The use of lethal force against peaceful protesters and arbitrary arrests are unacceptable,” Dujarric said.
He said Guterres urged the international community “to come together and send a clear signal to the military that it must respect the will of the people of Myanmar as expressed through the election and stop the repression.”
OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement on Sunday that “Use of lethal force against nonviolent demonstrators is never justifiable under international human rights norms. Since the beginning of the coup d’état… the police and security forces have targeted an ever-increasing number of opposition voices and demonstrators by arresting political officials, activists, civil society members, journalists and medical professionals.”
The OHCHR spokesperson urged the military to respect Myanmar people’s right to peaceful assembly in order to call for the restoration of democracy, adding that they must not be “met with violent and bloody repression.”
The UN also reiterated its call for the international community to stand in solidarity with the Myanmar people who are opposing the coup, and to restore democracy in the country.
On Friday, Myanmar’s ambassador to the UN, U Kyaw Moe Tun, denounced the coup at an informal General Assembly meeting in New York, calling on the international community to take the “strongest possible measures” against the military in order to restore civilian rule.
The regime fired him from his post on Saturday. However, the UN does not officially recognize the regime as Myanmar’s new government, according to a Reuters report citing a UN official. The ambassador is still in his position for now, according to Reuters.
The Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), a group formed by lawmakers elected to Parliament in Myanmar’s Nov. 8 general election, also said U Kyaw Moe Tun is still in his position on behalf of the elected government. The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw is Myanmar’s Parliament, which was denied the opportunity to meet by the coup.
In Asia, only Japan, Myanmar’s closest friend, has come out to publicly denounce the military’s weekend crackdowns.
Japanese Press Secretary Yoshida Tomoyuki said in a statement on Sunday, “The government of Japan strongly condemns the violence against civilians, which has been continuing despite repeated calls by the international community.”
Sharing the concerns of the UN and Japan, Marc Garneau, Canada’s minister of foreign affairs, said, “We call on the international community to unite in condemning these violent acts.”
He added, “Those responsible for this violence will be held to account, and Canada will consider additional measures in response. We stand with the people of Myanmar.”
The EU said it stood with the “people of Myanmar, who are defending their democracy,” and vowed that the bloc would “take measures in response to these developments shortly.”
EU High Representative Josep Borrell said, “In shooting against unarmed citizens, the security forces have shown a blatant disregard for international law, and must be held to account.”
The US, the UK and Canada have imposed targeted sanctions against Myanmar’s military leaders, including coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his subordinates.
Following reports of the Bloody Sunday crackdown, the US, Australian and Indian embassies in Yangon expressed sadness at the lives lost in Myanmar.
Irrawaddy
Myanmar’s Bloody Sunday Sees Highest Death Toll So Far at Hands of Security Forces
/in NewsANGON—“#How_Many_Dead_Bodies_UN_Need_To_Take_Action?” is what Nyi Nyi Aung Htet Naing posted on his Facebook Account Saturday night.
The popular social media call for UN intervention to stop Myanmar’s military dictatorship turned out to be his last post.
On Sunday morning, the 23-year-old network engineer reinforced the call — with his life.
He was shot dead by Myanmar security forces while joining a protest against the country’s military regime in Yangon’s Hledan. A live bullet pierced his chest.
With the deaths of more than a dozen people, including Nyi Nyi Aung Htet Naing, Myanmar’s anti-military regime protests turned bloodier on Sunday as security forces fired live rounds on marching civilians across the country.
The escalating violence was an apparent attempt by the junta to terrorize the people of Myanmar who have been protesting against the regime since early last month. If that was the goal, it failed.
There were more protesters on the streets throughout Sunday despite the presence of trigger-happy security forces. The heavy-handed strategy only served to make people across the country more united in their opposition to the men in uniform, pushing the tension between the regime and the people of Myanmar into top gear for the coming days.
Sunday saw the highest protest-related fatalities in a single day since the anti-regime rallies broke out three weeks ago. Fatal shootings were reported in several places across the country—from Dawei in the country’s Deep South to Yangon to upcountry Mandalay and other areas.
Anti-regime mass rallies have erupted daily in Myanmar following a military takeover early last month. While denouncing the military dictatorship, protesters have also demanded the release of their democratically elected leaders, the President U Win Myint, the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and others detained by the regime. Prior to this weekend, the protests had already seen bloodshed in other parts of the country, including the capital Naypyitaw and Mandalay, where five people, including a 16-year-old boy, were shot dead by riot police and soldiers last week.
On Sunday, people took to the streets in response to the protesters’ call to join Myanmar’s second general strike against the regime. It also coincided with the pro-democracy activists’ request for solidarity from the Milk Tea Alliance, a loose, online coalition of activists largely based in Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan using the hashtag #MilkTeaAlliance. The coalition’s name refers to the variety of types of milk tea consumed across the region. It opposes the increasing influence of China.
In Yangon, riot police and soldiers hunted down protesters beginning in the morning, killing at least four people. According the head of the emergency department of a government general hospital in Yangon, three died after being shot in the head and abdomen.
“Out of 19 wounded people we have treated today, 15 were hit with live bullets. Two are in critical condition as they were hit in the throat and abdomen,” said the hospital official.
A protest column made up of doctors, nurses, and students from medical, pharmaceutical and paramedical universities in Yangon was attacked by soldiers and riot police in the city’s Yankin Township. Out of thousands of protesters, 211 were arrested and several others sustained shoulder dislocations or skull injuries after being hit with batons. Those arrested had been released in the afternoon, but only after being forced to sign a paper stating they would not join the protests again.
“They just directly charged on us. Not even bothering to warn us to disperse,” said a 30-year-old doctor who was among those detained.
A second-year medical student who gave her name as Wendy was hit in the head with a baton. All she remembered was that her white duty coat suddenly turned red with her blood.
“I was too scared to feel the pain at the time,” the 18-year-old recalled after her release late Sunday.
In the country’s Deep South Dawei in Tanintharyi Region, the deaths and injuries came in the morning.
At least four people were shot dead and around 40 injured in a violent assault by riot police on anti-coup protesters.
At midday, a bystander on a motorcycle died after being shot in the head by police during a crackdown on a protest in Mandalay. Several people, including a youth volunteer helping protesters, were shot and injured. A woman who was just walking down the street was shot into the head and died on the spot in the evening.
Like their counterparts in Yangon, protesters in Mandalay took more defensive approaches when confronted by security forces. Equipping themselves with hard hats, goggles and gas masks, they erected roadblocks with everything they could find to keep the charging riot police and soldiers away. Some brave souls armed themselves with rackets to hit the flying teargas canisters back to security forces while others simply used wet blankets to cover up smoky canisters when they landed.
Protest-related deaths, injuries and arrests were also reported in Bago and Magwe Regions.
Following the civilian deaths, the US Embassy in Yangon said on Sunday night that they were heartbroken to see the loss of so many lives in Myanmar and people should not face violence for expressing dissent to the military coup.
“Targeting of civilians is abhorrent,” said the statement.
Despite using live bullets, stun grenades and tear gas, police failed to disperse demonstrators taking part in a nationwide general strike against the military regime on Sunday.
Undeterred by the deadly shootings, protesters across the country reorganized and continued their marches and sit-ins in the afternoon. Apparently disturbed and angered by the deaths of their fellow protesters, they shouted anti-regime slogans louder than on the other days.
Anti-regime striker Sithu Aung, a 22-year-old Technological University student who joined the protest simply because he didn’t want dictatorship, said he also fears the loss of his future if Myanmar is again isolated from the international community under the regime due to sanctions.
“If we don’t resist out of fear, we would be enslaved by them. I believe others will move the protest ahead even if I am taken down,” he said.
Topics: batons, Coup, dead, deaths, embassy, gunfire, Police, Protests, regime, security forces, shootings, shot, UN, US
Irrawaddy
Declaration of Terrorist Group
/in News