Medics: one man in critical condition after at least 16 shot in Yangon on Sunday

Four have died from gunshot wounds during attacks by police and soldiers in the city while others were hospitalised after beatings or inhaling tear gas

The regime intensified its brutal attacks on Sunday as it sought to stop a massive popular uprising aimed at removing it from power (Myanmar Now)

Content warning: This report contains graphic images of wounded and dead protesters

At least 16 people were shot in Yangon on Sunday as the military ordered deadly attacks on peaceful protesters across the country, according to hospital records seen by Myanmar Now and statements from medics. 

Four of those shot in the city were killed and a 31-year-old man is in a critical condition after being shot in the neck. At least 14 other deaths have been confirmed in other parts of the country, including in Dawei and Mandalay. 

It was the bloodiest day since the February 1 coup, as military chief Min Aung Hlaing sought to stamp out a massive nationwide uprising aimed at removing his regime from power. 

 

 

There were a total 19 admissions to Yangon General Hospital in the wake of the attacks and another two at Thingangyun Sanpya Hospital. 

Three of those brought to Yangon General Hospital were already dead when they arrived. They were 23-year-old IT worker Nyi Nyi Aung Htet Naing, 59-year-old middle school teacher Tin Nwet Yee, and a young man named Zin Lin Htet.

 

 

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Zin Lin Thu, 20, was shot in the left eye during a protest crackdown at Hledan Junction in Yangon. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Yangon General Hospital. He was one of three people killed during the crackdowns in Yangon on February 28. (Myanmar Now)

The records show Nyi Nyi Aung Htet Naing died after a bullet penetrated his lower torso. Three Myanmar Now reporters witnessed him being shot in Hledan on Sunday morning before protesters carried him away. 

A fourth person, 23-year-old Hein Htut Aung, was pronounced dead when he arrived at Thingangyun Sanpya Hospital with a bullet wound in his chest.

Others were injured by bullet wounds in the shoulder, thigh, big toe and neck, while a 21-year-old woman suffered a massive wound in her leg from a “bomb blast” believed to have been from a stun grenade.   

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Nyi Nyi Aung Het Naing, 24, was shot in the abdomen during a protest at Hledan Junction on February 28. He was taken to Yangon General Hospital by fellow protesters and pronounced dead on arrival. He was one of three people killed in crackdowns in Yangon that day.

X-rays seen by Myanmar Now showed bullets had shattered patients’ bones, while photos taken by medics showed large areas of skin and flesh missing.  

Two people were treated for injuries from being beaten by security forces and another two were admitted after inhaling tear gas. One man arrived with a puncture wound in his arm from falling on a fence spike while trying to escape the police. 

Most of the hospitalised protesters were from Hledan, with others injured at rallying areas in Tamwe and Yankin.

Five patients have been discharged from Yangon General Hospital and another 10 were transferred to a private hospital, a doctor said. The doctor declined to reveal which hospital the 10 were transferred to out of concern for their safety. 

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Tin Nwet Yee, 40, was one of several teachers protesting against military rule on lower Kyimyindaing Road on February 28 when she was shot and killed during a police crackdown. She was pronounced dead on arrival at Yangon General Hospital.


 

The hospital’s emergency department, which had been closed for weeks amid a nationwide general strike aimed at crippling the junta, was reopened “out of necessity” on Sunday, a doctor said.

Medics, who have been at the forefront of mass work stoppages, made a collective decision to reopen to treat the wounded while continuing to disobey orders from the military regime.    

At least 270 were arrested on Sunday, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners. But the group said it was trying to confirm reports of more than 1,000 being detained. 

A total of 13 journalists, including Myanmar Now’s multimedia reporter Kay Zon Nway, were confirmed as among those detained over the weekend.

In a statement on Monday, striking medics and doctors condemned the “brutal killings of peaceful, unarmed protesters by the security forces.” 

“The military council not only seized state power unjustly but also is committing killings continuously,” the statement said. “While we will be documenting and reporting those, we will also continue to do the civil disobedience movement until it succeeds.”  

 

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A list of dead and injured protesters who were treated or examined at Yangon General Hospital on February 28.

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Shine Kaung Khant, 24, sustained gunshot injuries to his left buttock during a protest at Hledan Junction in Yangon on February 28.

 

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Mya Witt Yee, 18, sustained a severe fracture in her left leg after being shot at by security forces in front of the Yuzana Plaza shopping mall in Yankin township in Yangon on February 28.

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Myint Mo Hein, 20, sustained injuries to his left leg during a protest crackdown at Hledan Junction in Yangon on February 28.

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Min Htet Naing, 19, sustained a gunshot wound to his right leg during a protest at Hledan Junction on February 28.

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Kyaw Kyaw Win, 24, sustained a major fracture in his left shoulder after being shot by security forces during a protest in Yangon on February 28.

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Htoo Mon Naing, 31, was shot in the nape of the neck during the crackdown on protesters at Hledan Junction in Yangon on February 28.

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 Htet Htet Khaing, 21, sustained fractures in her left leg and thigh after being hit with explosive devices thrown at protesters by security forces in Yangon on Feb 28.

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Hein Min Kyaw, 31, sustained a knee injury following the crackdown on protesters at Yankin township in Yangon on February 28.

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San San Aye, 46, was shot through her right thigh while she was protesting at Myaynigone Junction in Yangon on February 28.

 

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Aung Phyo Paing, 18, was shot in the left shoulder while he was protesting against the military junta at Hledan Junction in Yangon on February 28.

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Aung Ko Paing, 23, was shot in the abdomen while he was protesting against the military junta at Hledan Junction in Yangon on February 28.

Those arrested include a BBC reporter and a former Mizzima correspondent. 

Published on Mar 19, 2021
Photojournalists take cover near the entrance of a monastery where military supporters gathered to attack protesters and media in Yangon on February 18 (EPA-EFE/LYNN BO BO)

A BBC journalist and a former Mizzima News reporter were arrested by men believed to be plainclothes officers in Naypyitaw on Friday afternoon, a family member confirmed.

BBC Burmese journalist Aung Thura was in front of the Dekkhina District court to report on a hearing for National League for Democracy patron Win Htein when he was arrested. Former Mizzima correspondent Than Htike Aung was with him at the time of the arrest.

No further details of the arrest or the reporters’ detention were known at the time of reporting, according to Aung Thura’s relative. 

“I saw some plainclothes officers dragging away a person in trousers into a car,” lawyer Min Min Soe, who was near the court at the time, told Myanmar Now. The man she saw is believed to be Than Htike Aung.  

“Two other officers in plainclothes were hassling another individual in a paso [traditional sarong for men] and glasses,” she said, referring to Aung Thura. “It was quite a scene so I don’t know what happened next.”

BBC News issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying that they are "doing everything [they] can" to find Aung Thura, who they described as being taken away by unidentified men.

“We call on the authorities to help locate him and confirm that he is safe,” the statement said.

As of March 16, a total of 38 journalists had been arrested or targeted for arrest since the February 1 coup. The latest arrests of the BBC and former Mizzima journalists push this number up to 40.  

Only 22 of these reporters have been released. Ten journalists have been charged with violating Section 505(a) of the penal code, which has been used against people who are seen as causing fear, spreading fake news, or agitating government employees. Under recent amendments to the law, the charges come with a three-year prison sentence if convicted.

Online news website The Irrawaddy has also been charged by the junta as violating the same statute for showing “disregard” for the armed forces in their reporting of the ongoing anti-regime protests.

Five publications, including Myanmar Now and Mizzima had their offices raided and their publishing licenses revoked earlier this month by the regime.

Editor's note: This story was updated to include the BBC's statement, which was not available at the original time of publishing.

 

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.

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The offensives come in the wake of deadly crackdowns against anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina 

Published on Mar 18, 2021
A KIA soldier watches from an outpost in Kachin state in this undated file photo (Kachinwave) 

The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) launched attacks against police bases in the jade mining region of Hpakant on Thursday morning, a local resident told Myanmar Now. 

The attacks targeted police battalions where soldiers were stationed near Nam Maw village in the Seik Muu village tract.

“There are Myanmar police battalions around Nam Maw,” a resident said. At least three bases were attacked, he added. 

A 41-year-old civilian in Seik Muu village injured his left hand during the clash, the Kachin-based Myitkyina News Journal reported.

The KIA has launched several offensives against the coup regime’s forces recently. Fighting has also been reported in Mogaung and Injangyang this month. 

Some 200 people fled the Injangyang villages of Gway Htaung and Tan Baung Yan on Monday after the KIA launched an offensive against the military there. 

The offenses began in the wake of deadly crackdowns against anti-coup protesters in Myitkyina. The KIA has warned the junta not to harm anti-coup protesters. 

 

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.

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The coup regime’s forces took the injured people away and locals do not know their whereabouts 

Published on Mar 18, 2021
Kalay residents move the body of a man who was shot dead on Wednesday (Supplied) 

Four young men were killed and five people were injured in the town of Kalay in Sagaing region on Wednesday as protesters continued their fight to topple the regime despite daily massacres across the country aimed at terrorizing them into submission. 

The Tahan Protest Group gathered in the town at around 10am and police and soldiers began shooting. One young man was shot dead on the spot as he tried to help people who were trapped amid gunfire, residents told Myanmar Now.   

The regime’s forces also shot at and chased fleeing protesters along roads and through narrow alleys, a resident said.

“The crowd of protesters dispersed but one person was shot dead while trying to rescue those trapped in the protest site,” the resident added. 

As the crowd dispersed, a man riding a motorcycle was shot outside a branch of KBZ Bank. “He also died,” the resident said. 

Despite the murders, protesters gathered again in the afternoon around 4pm. Police and soldiers started shooting again and killed two people. 

“They were shot dead while trying to set up barricades at the protest site. They were shot while trying to obstruct the army’s way as the army troops chased and shot the trapped protestors,” the resident said. 

The two who were killed in the morning were identified as Salai Kyong Lian Kye O, who was 25, and Kyin Khant Man, who was 27 and had three children. The identities of the other two have not yet been confirmed.

Five people were also injured and then taken away. Locals said they did not know where they had been taken.   

 

Myanmar Now is an independent news service providing free, accurate and unbiased news to the people of Myanmar in Burmese and English.

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