Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Anti-coup protesters in Yangon, Myanmar. NZHPHOTO/PA Images

Shots fired at funeral as Myanmar death toll rises amid bloody protests

A UN human rights expert has accused the junta of committing “mass murder”.

MYANMAR SECURITY FORCES opened fire on a crowd attending the funeral of student who was killed on the bloodiest day yet of a crackdown on protests against last month’s coup, local media reported.

The escalating violence — which took the lives of at least 114 people on Saturday including several children — has prompted a UN human rights expert to accuse the junta of committing “mass murder” and to criticise the international community for not doing enough to stop it.

The Security Council is likely to hold closed consultations on the escalating situation in Myanmar, UN diplomats said on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement.

The council has condemned the violence and called for a restoration of democracy but has not yet considered possible sanctions against the military, which would require support or an abstention by Myanmar’s neighbour and friend China.

The mounting death tolls have not stopped the demonstrations against the 1 February takeover — or the violent response to them from the military and police.

Myanmar Now reported the junta’s troops yesterday shot at mourners at the funeral in the city of Bago for Thae Maung Maung, a 20-year-old killed on Saturday. He was reportedly a member of the All Burma Federation of Student Union, which has a long history of supporting pro-democracy movements in the country.

According to the report, several people attending the funeral were arrested. It did not say if anyone was hurt or killed. But at least nine people were killed elsewhere on as the crackdown continued, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), which has been documenting deaths during demonstrations against the coup.

Some of the funerals held yesterday themselves became opportunities to demonstrate resistance to the junta.

At one in Bhamo in the northern state of Kachin, a large crowd chanted democracy slogans and raised the three-finger salute that has come to symbolise defiance of the takeover. Family and friends were paying their respects to Shwe Myint, a 36-year-old shot dead by security forces on Saturday.

The military had initially seized her body and refused to return it until her family signed a statement that her death was not caused by them, according to the Democratic Voice of Burma, a broadcast and online news service.

In Yangon, the country’s largest city, meanwhile, mourners flashed the three-finger salute as they wheeled the coffin of a 13-year-old boy. Sai Wai Yan was shot dead by security forces as he played outside his home.

The 1 February coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government reversed years of progress toward democracy after five decades of military rule.

It has again made Myanmar the focus of international scrutiny as security forces have repeatedly fired into crowds of protesters. At least 459 people have been killed since the takeover, according to the AAPP.

The crackdown extends beyond the demonstrations. Humanitarian workers reported the military had carried out airstrikes on Sunday against guerrilla fighters in the eastern part of the country.

Henrietta Fore, head of the UN children’s agency UNICEF, said in Saturday’s bloodiest day since the coup “an 11-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl, two 13-year-old boys, a 13-year-old girl, three 16-year-old boys and two 17-year-old boys, (were) all reportedly shot and killed”. She said a 12-month old baby girl was gravely injured after being struck in the eye with a rubber bullet.

“In less than two months, at least 35 children have allegedly been killed, countless others seriously injured and almost 1,000 children and young people reported arbitrarily detained by security forces across the country” she said, condemning the indiscriminate killings and demanding that those responsible be held accountable.

The junta has accused some of the demonstrators of perpetrating the violence because of their sporadic use of Molotov cocktails and has said its use of force has been justified to stop what it has called rioting.

While protesters have occasionally hurled firecrackers at troops and on Saturday carried bows and arrows, they remain vastly outgunned and have shown commitment to methods of nonviolent civil disobedience.

Saturday’s death toll far exceeded the previous single-day high that ranged from 74 to 90 on 14 March. The killings happened throughout the country as Myanmar’s military celebrated the annual Armed Forces Day holiday with a parade in the country’s capital, Naypyitaw.

“Today the junta of Myanmar has made Armed Forces Day a day of infamy with the massacre of men, women and very young children throughout country,” said Tom Andrews, the UN’s independent expert on human rights for Myanmar.

“Words of condemnation or concern are frankly ringing hollow to the people of Myanmar while the military junta commits mass murder against them. It is past time for robust, coordinated action.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 9 comments
Close
9 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Chris Finch
    Favourite Chris Finch
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 10:28 AM

    I bought the wife a fridge for Christmas. I can’t wait to see her face light up when she opens it.

    288
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clare Power
    Favourite Clare Power
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 12:22 PM

    @Chris Finch: your not Larry Betts!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute UK Hurling Bloke
    Favourite UK Hurling Bloke
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 12:44 PM

    @Clare Power: there’s a difference between knowing your sht and knowing you’re sht

    41
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann Reddin
    Favourite Ann Reddin
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 4:08 PM

    @Chris Finch: Gowan, you got that off the Les Dawson 1976 Christmas special.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Flavour Of The Month
    Favourite Flavour Of The Month
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 8:11 PM

    @Chris Finch: one for the Christmas cracker.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paddy Ryan
    Favourite Paddy Ryan
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 11:03 AM

    Unfortunately Christmas starts in early November now. A massive build up which takes the joy out of it. Leave Christmas to December only. A wonderful time of year, for me anyway.

    179
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Saville
    Favourite David Saville
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 2:24 PM

    @Paddy Ryan: I agree. I like Christmas, I just don’t want 2 months of it. But everyone to their own I suppose.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony G
    Favourite Tony G
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 3:21 PM

    David Seville: big shopping centres arent happy with that lol

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute keith fay
    Favourite keith fay
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 10:41 AM

    It starts whenever you want it to, whatever makes you happy. Tree up on Nov 1st? Go for it, why would anyone care what is essentially just another ornament in your house. My mam was always broke at xmas and always said she appreciated xmas stuff being on sale in November so she could pick up bits here and there for her and for the family.

    132
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick MC Dermott
    Favourite Patrick MC Dermott
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 10:47 AM

    Who cares when it starts. Some people get into the Christmas spirit very early, and good for them. There are others for whom Christmas never comes and is a non event. Maybe we should think of those rather than how soon we can get started on silly spending..

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Kenny
    Favourite John Kenny
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 10:42 AM

    Christmas everyday now

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brendan hackett
    Favourite brendan hackett
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 11:16 AM

    8th of December is Jim Morrison’s birthday.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Dillon
    Favourite Tom Dillon
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 11:52 AM

    @brendan hackett: John Lennon murdered on 08/12/80.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pato
    Favourite Pato
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 12:16 PM

    Do they know it’s Christmas time at all?

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J M
    Favourite J M
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 2:58 PM

    Use to be the day all the country folk would come up to Dublin was great buzz those days.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute hans vos
    Favourite hans vos
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 12:23 PM

    For some people yes and for others no. And thats ok in a free state.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Murphy
    Favourite Pat Murphy
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 2:22 PM

    It’s a long time since Dec 8th has been a busy Christmas shopping day in the cities. It’s usually a week day, so not suitable for most people. Rural people now have better shopping options locally than before, internet shopping, no sales on the 8th unlike Black Friday. In fact you’re far more likely to see locals in the cities than out-of-towners today.

    I remember seeing footfall figures for December for Dublin City Centre and Dec 8th wasn’t in the top 10 busiest days. Busiest days were the weekends before Christmas.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann Reddin
    Favourite Ann Reddin
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 4:17 PM

    @Pat Murphy: That my be correct in the here and now, but Dec. 8th was the busiest shopping day in Dublin – i had a part time job waitressing when I was in school and always worked on the 8th because it was a day of holy obligation and every kid in the country was off school. They’d be dragged out of bed at silly o’clock by their mothers to get the train up to Dublin to get the Christmas clothes in. Yes the few days before Christmas were busy, but nothing like the 8th. We’d have a queue out the door for breakfast by 9am when people would start getting off the train. The crowds on Henry St meant you couldn’t take more than four steps in front of you in the space of a minute, the street was that jammers. Miss those days

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ann Reddin
    Favourite Ann Reddin
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 4:19 PM

    @Ann Reddin: ** that may be

    6
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Murphy
    Favourite Pat Murphy
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 5:01 PM

    @Ann Reddin: I don’t doubt anything you said for a minute, but the footfall figures I saw were from 2016, when the Dec 8th shopping tradition was much reduced.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Smith
    Favourite James Smith
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 6:20 PM

    @Ann Reddin: Dubs use to stay out of town on the 8th December, I remember.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F Fitzgerald
    Favourite F Fitzgerald
    Report
    Dec 10th 2023, 4:24 PM

    @James Smith: Too right we did – going into town on the 8th would be like going in on a Junior Cert results night!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johnny King
    Favourite Johnny King
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 3:46 PM

    Cancelled the channels years ago.Don’t listen to the radio in work anymore.I have a 96 hour spotify mix playing instead of hearing the same 20 songs all day,same 20 ads all day and the same news 10 times a day.
    So I haven’t been bombarded with Christmas ads all day which makes you sick of it by the middle of November.
    Recommended

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Smith
    Favourite James Smith
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 6:21 PM

    @Johnny King: good for you.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Cock
    Favourite Harry Cock
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 12:13 PM

    I’m getting a steak the size of a toilet seat for Christmas, I wish it could be Christmas every day

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute michael hamilton
    Favourite michael hamilton
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 12:32 PM

    @Harry Cock: oh no, not another fake profile Peter.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garreth Byrne
    Favourite Garreth Byrne
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 6:26 PM

    As a selling and consumption spree Christmas starts sometime in November. I am certain that Christmas Day is 25 December and has connection to a significant religious event that happened in Bethlehem about 2,000 years ago.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane O Mac
    Favourite Shane O Mac
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 6:01 PM

    Decorations were out before Halloween

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F Fitzgerald
    Favourite F Fitzgerald
    Report
    Dec 10th 2023, 4:26 PM

    Ah no, that’s getting too far ahead of yourself! Let us have Hallowe’en before Christmas preparations start!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob Cahill
    Favourite Rob Cahill
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 2:05 PM

    It used to be the day the Muldoones travelled to Dublin for the shopping.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David O Brien
    Favourite David O Brien
    Report
    Dec 8th 2023, 2:24 PM

    It’s the day my neighbour goes and gets locked.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute F Fitzgerald
    Favourite F Fitzgerald
    Report
    Dec 10th 2023, 4:27 PM

    @David O Brien: Tell him you’d like noise cancelling headphones this year ;-)

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fintan Stack
    Favourite Fintan Stack
    Report
    Dec 9th 2023, 7:09 AM

    Retailers seem to think it starts at the end of August.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harry Chan
    Favourite Harry Chan
    Report
    Dec 9th 2023, 9:14 AM

    I think the Diwali festival was confusing people. People who were ignorant to what was happening thought it was people starting Christmas lights early and joined in.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute lucia
    Favourite lucia
    Report
    Dec 10th 2023, 12:43 PM

    I used to put my decorations up the 2nd of December and I loved everything to do with the lights I used to put huge displays of village houses in my windows I’d have lights outside the house as well and I’d have 2 trees in my home as well they were very good times and I miss them a lot. I’ve not put any decorations up for a few years now due to chronic pain and disability and I miss having the big display in my home but I just can’t do it anymore and I’ve no one to help with it, instead I look out my window and see the neighbours homes lit up and it gives me a bit of joy to see other families enjoying the Christmas cheer

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute patrick kelly
    Favourite patrick kelly
    Report
    Dec 9th 2023, 6:15 AM

    Christmas is a riot…

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute martin finnegan
    Favourite martin finnegan
    Report
    Dec 9th 2023, 11:55 AM

    Just put tree up yesterday. Know some people have it up a month nearly. Christmas bout family not about buying stuff. Greedy time year . Better years ago people actually not just going mass for there annual visit. I go mass every week church empty but will struggle getting seat Christmas. Not old I just needed something to believe in . World is crazy

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds