Anti-Coup Protests: 14 more killed in Myanmar

At least 14 anti-coup protesters were killed yesterday as demonstrators across Myanmar continued to defy military rule and a group of ousted MPs urged them to "defend themselves" during the nation's "darkest moment".

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi from power in a February 1 putsch, triggering a mass uprising that has seen hundreds of thousands protest daily for a return to democracy.

The junta has repeatedly justified its power grab by alleging widespread electoral fraud in November's elections, which Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won by a landslide.

In response, a group of elected MPs, many of whom are in hiding, have formed a shadow "parliament" called the Committee for Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH) -- the Burmese word for the country's governing bloc -- to denounce the military regime.

Yesterday, they issued a statement saying protesters had the "full right to defend themselves" under the country's penal code against security forces who are "harming and causing violence".

Soldiers and police have in recent weeks been staging near-daily crackdowns against demonstrators calling for a return to democracy, deploying tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to quell anti-coup protests.

More than 80 have been killed in the unrest, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners advocacy group.

Security forces opened fire on protesters in Hlaing Tharyar, one of the largest townships in Yangon, and some protesters wielding sticks and knives fought back while others fled -- carrying away the injured and bundling them into cars.

At least 14 protesters were killed, the Myanmar Now news service said yesterday, while some other domestic media gave even higher death tolls.

Myanmar Now said the information came from a rescue worker and a hospital near to the industrial district.

A doctor at a private hospital treating the injured confirmed the use of both live rounds and rubber bullets.

Chinese state-owned broadcaster CGTN said two Chinese-funded clothes factories in the Hlaing Tharyar district were set ablaze by people who arrived on motorcycles, armed with iron rods, axes and gasoline.

China urged Myanmar to stop violence and protect Chinese companies and personnel after the attacks, reports Reuters.

Throughout the day, gunshots were heard continuously by residents hiding in their homes, while military trucks were sighted driving through Hlaing Tharyar's streets.

A police officer posted a TikTok video hours before the crackdown, saying in a voiceover that they will be bringing heavy weaponry.

"I will not have mercy on Hlaing Tharyar and they will fight back seriously too because there are all kinds of characters there," said the officer under the account @aungthuraphyo40.

The video, which was seen and verified by AFP factcheckers, was removed hours later.

State television MRTV said one Myanmar police officer was killed and three were wounded during protests yesterday.

MRTV said the police were wounded in Bago, central Myanmar. It accused protesters of throwing rocks and using catapults and said it was also trying to verify whether they used guns. It said Lieutenant Kyaw Naing Oo died of a chest wound.

'I WILL FIGHT UNTIL THE END'

In the northern jade-producing city of Hpakant, a small protest was broken up before noon when security forces arrived and a man was shot dead, according to a doctor and a local news outlet.

In Mandalay, Myanmar's second largest city, protesters retrieved the injured from the street, running to safety after police opened fire on them, according to AFP reporters on the ground.

"A 24-year old woman... died from a gunshot to her face and she arrived dead," a doctor told AFP, adding that at least seven more were injured from gunshot wounds.

Despite the daily bloodshed, those in the anti-coup movement remain defiant, and have hardened in recent weeks.

"I've seen the fallen heroes give their lives," said 21-year-old Ma Khine Lay, admitting she was afraid ever as she helped with rebuilding barricades out of bricks and bamboo poles in a Yangon township.

"I will fight until the end."