At Least 2 Dead from Live Fire by Myanmar Military and Police... Strong Condemnation from Countries Worldwide (Comprehensive)

On the 20th, Protesters and Military Police Clash at Mandalay Shipyard in Myanmar
Indiscriminate Shooting of Live and Rubber Bullets as Protesters Resist
At Least 2 Dead Including Teenage Boy... Some Injured in Critical Condition
US, UK, France, EU and Other Countries Express Concern Over Bloodshed

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Hee-jong] On the 20th, Myanmar military and police indiscriminately fired live bullets and rubber bullets at protesters opposing the military coup, resulting in at least 2 deaths, including a teenage boy, and about 30 injuries. Countries around the world, including Europe and the United States, strongly condemned the bloodshed and expressed their intention to discuss future measures. There are forecasts that the anti-coup movement in Myanmar could spread uncontrollably.

According to local media and foreign reports on the 21st, hundreds of military and police forces advanced to a shipyard in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, in the morning of the previous day and confronted workers on strike protesting the coup.

Hundreds of citizens, including public officials, gathered to strongly protest and demanded the military and police withdraw. The military and police used violence and arrested at least 10 people. When some protesters resisted by shooting slingshots or throwing stones, the military and police indiscriminately fired rubber bullets, slingshots, tear gas, and live bullets.

As a result, 2 people lost their lives, and about 30 were injured. It is reported that about half of the injured suffered gunshot wounds. The local media 'Myanmar Now' also reported that at least 2 people died and 6 were injured due to live fire by the military and police. Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition.

The local media 'The Irrawaddy' reported that the person who died on the spot from gunshot wounds to the abdomen and head was a boy under 18 years old who came to help the shipyard workers cornered and was caught in the incident. On local social media (SNS), the boy is reported to be 14 years old. Another deceased person was shot in the chest and was taken to the hospital but died.

A nearby resident posted a video in real-time on Facebook, where continuous gunshots could be heard. The resident, who appeared to have taken cover at a nearby construction site, said, "They (military and police) are shooting cruelly," describing the situation at the time. There are also testimonies saying, "It was like a battlefield."

On the 9th, the military and police also fired live bullets along with rubber bullets at protesters in the capital Naypyidaw, injuring Kain (20, female) in the head. The woman eventually died on the morning of the 19th after being in a brain-dead state. As a result, the number of protesters killed by live fire from the military and police while protesting the coup has increased to at least 3.

With the military's harsh crackdown causing bloodshed, international pressure is also mounting. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, posted on Twitter that day, "I strongly condemn the military's violence against peaceful civilian protesters," and urged, "Myanmar's military and all security forces to immediately stop violence against civilians."

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also criticized the use of force by Myanmar military and police against protesters, saying, "The violence committed today in Mandalay is unacceptable." UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tweeted, "The shooting at peaceful protesters in Myanmar has crossed a line," and said, "We will consider further measures with the international community against actions that undermine democracy and suppress dissent."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the UK Foreign Office announced asset freezes and travel bans on Myanmar's Defense Minister and three officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, also tweeted on the same day, "We are deeply concerned by reports that Burmese (Myanmar) military and police are firing on protesters and continuously detaining and attacking demonstrators and others," emphasizing, "We stand with the people of Burma."

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement through its spokesperson expressing "deep concern over media reports of casualties resulting from the harsh crackdown on protesters in Mandalay, Myanmar."

Meanwhile, the Myanmar military seized power through a coup on the 1st of this month, citing the civilian government's failure to properly investigate serious fraud in last November's general election. Large-scale protests against this have continued for fifteen days. Following Kain's funeral on the 21st, strikes and work stoppages are scheduled for the 22nd, marking an important turning point in the civil disobedience movement.