Anti-coup protesters, police clash in Myanmar, killing two

BY TAL AXELROD - 02/20/21 

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Protesters and police clashed in Myanmar Saturday amid ongoing demonstrations against the military-led coup in the country, resulting in the deaths of two people.

Local media reported that one protester was shot in the head and died at the scene during the protest in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. Another demonstrator was shot in the chest and died on the way to the hospital.

Several other protesters were injured at the rally, which police had tried earlier in the day to disperse with tear gas and rubber bullets before using live ammunition on the largely unarmed demonstrators.

Police pushback on the demonstrations ramped up Saturday, with law enforcement using water cannons, tear gas, slingshots and rubber bullets against both demonstrators and workers who were striking at Mandalay’s Yadanabon dock.

The two fatalities Saturday marked the third death in two days after a young woman was shot and killed by police Friday during a rally against the coup.

The mushrooming protests – and the increased police and military response – come after the military junta earlier this month declared a state of emergency and overthrew the civilian-led government. Several lawmakers, including Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint, were rounded up in the coup.

The White House swiftly announced sanctions targeting Myanmar's military officials, their families and some businesses, which were followed by similar moves by the U.K. and Canada.

The U.S. embassy in Myanmar expressed alarm over the Saturday killings, saying that "No one should be harmed for exercising the right to dissent."

"We are deeply troubled by the fatal shooting of protestors in Mandalay, a day after the death of Mya Thwe Thwe Khine in Nay Pyi Taw. The military must stop violence against the people of Myanmar," the embassy tweeted.