38 killed, two factories set on fire as military extends martial in Myanmar

YANGON, Myanmar: At least 38 protesters across Myanmar have been killed in the latest crackdown on the anti-coup movement, an advocacy group said, as the army that seized power on February 1 declared martial law over two areas of Yangon where Chinese factories were set ablaze.

A police officer also died making Sunday the deadliest day since mass demonstrations against the coup began six weeks ago.

A total of 126 people have so far been killed in “violent and arbitrary crackdowns” since the coup, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said, warning that casualties were “drastically increasing”.

The number of people arrested rose to more than 2,150 people by Saturday, it added.

On Sunday, plumes of smoke rose over the industrial Hlaing Thar Yar township in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, as two Chinese factories were set ablaze and security forces opened fire on protesters.

At least 22 civilians were killed and more than 20 wounded, including three in critical condition, according to AAPP.

China’s embassy in Myanmar said Chinese staff were injured and trapped when the factories were looted and set on fire by unidentified attackers.

Throughout the day, residents hiding in their homes reported hearing gunfire, while military trucks wereseen driving through Hlaing Thar Yar’s streets.

The area is one of the city’s poorest areas and home to people who’ve travelled from other parts of Myanmar to find work.

A doctor told media outlets that she had treated about 50 people with injuries. “I cannot talk much – injured people keep coming,” she said before hanging up.

Escalating violence was also reported elsewhere in Myanmar including the second city of Mandalay, where a woman was shot dead, and in Bago, where two people were killed.

Meanwhile, state television MRTV said a police officer had died of a chest wound after a confrontation with protesters in Bago. He is the second policeman reported dead in the protests.

Also on Sunday, state media said martial law had been declared over Hlaing Thar Yar and the neighbouring Shwepyitha township.

The military government “gives administrative and judicial martial law power to the Yangon regional commander to practice [in Hlaingthaya and Shwepyitha townships] … to perform security, maintain the rule of law and tranquility more effectively,” said an announcer on state television.

Army-run Myawadday television said security forces acted after four clothing factories and a fertiliser plant were set ablaze and about 2,000 people had stopped fire engines from reaching them.

Martial law was also extended to four more districts of the city on Monday, Eleven Media reported citing an announcement on MRTV.

Doctor Sasa, a representative of elected lawmakers from the assembly who have formed a parallel government, voiced solidarity with the people affected by the military government’s move.

“The perpetrators, attackers, enemies of the people of Myanmar, the evil SAC (State Administrative Council) will be held accountable for every drops of blood that shed,” he said in a message.

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The United Nations’ envoy for Myanmar strongly condemned the continuing bloodshed in the country.

“The international community, including regional actors, must come together in solidarity with the people of Myanmar and their democratic aspirations,” Christine Schraner Burgener said in a statement on Sunday.

She said the Myanmar military was defying international calls for restraint, adding she had heard “heartbreaking accounts of killings, mistreatment of demonstrators and torture of prisoners” from contacts inside the Southeast Asian country.

“The ongoing brutality, including against medical personnel and destruction of public infrastructure, severely undermines any prospects for peace and stability,” she said.

In a statement, Dan Chugg, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Myanmar, also said the British government “is appalled by the security forces’ use of deadly force against innocent people” in Yangon and other parts of Myanmar.