3 feared dead as Myanmar army truck runs down protesters

BANGKOK – An service conveyance barreled into a peaceful march of anti-government protesters successful military-ruled Myanmar’s biggest metropolis connected Sunday, reportedly sidesplitting astatine slightest 3 people, witnesses and a protestation organizer said.

Sunday’s march was 1 of astatine slightest 3 held successful Yangon, and akin rallies were reported successful different parts of the state a time up of an expected verdict successful the archetypal of astir a twelve transgression cases against Myanmar civilian person Aung San Suu Kyi, who was toppled successful a subject takeover Feb. 1.

A video posted connected societal media showed a speeding tiny service motortruck heading into the marchers from behind. Voices tin beryllium heard, saying: “The car is coming ... Please help! It deed the children ... Oh! ... Dead! ... Run, ... run!” The video shows astir a twelve radical moving from the spot.

A witnesser told The Associated Press that the protesters had been connected his thoroughfare for conscionable 2 minutes erstwhile the subject motortruck deed them, leaving 3 radical lying motionless connected the road.

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“About 5 equipped soldiers got retired of the conveyance and chased aft the protesters,” said the witness, who insisted connected anonymity for fearfulness of arrest. “They opened occurrence and besides arrested young radical who had been deed by the car. At slightest 10 radical were arrested.”

A idiosyncratic for a section exigency rescue team, who besides insisted connected anonymity, said it brought 2 men and a woman, each successful their aboriginal 20s and earnestly injured, to a subject infirmary for treatment.

State tv reported that 11 protesters had been arrested, including 3 injured people.

Security forces person antecedently utilized cars to onslaught protesters since the service took power. They person besides freely utilized unrecorded ammunition, sidesplitting astir 1,300 civilians, according to a elaborate database compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The usage of lethal unit by the service and constabulary has led to little large-scale thoroughfare protests, which person been replaced by small, rapidly organized marches that usually interruption up astatine the archetypal show of the authorities.

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Sunday’s deaths successful Yangon’s Kyeemyindaing vicinity could not beryllium instantly confirmed.

Another witnesser said that erstwhile respective radical came to stitchery their items, 3 much subject vehicles arrived and arrested respective of them.

“At slightest 4 people, including 2 young girls who were crying adjacent the shoes, were arrested,” helium said. “The soldiers told america to spell wrong oregon they would sprout us.”

About 30 radical took portion successful the march, according to a subordinate of Yangon People’s Strike, the section absorption radical that organized it. Media posted online showed the protesters carrying placards with Suu Kyi’s image, and calling for the contiguous merchandise of the country’s detained civilian leaders.

The organizer, who spoke connected information of anonymity due to the fact that of the menace of arrest, said the radical held specified protests to support the residents progressive successful the conflict against the military-installed government.

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At the aforesaid time, militant municipality guerrilla groups person attacked officials and planted bombs, portion unfastened equipped struggle had engulfed agrarian areas, starring to a informing the state whitethorn descent into civilian war.

Since she was detained by the military, Suu Kyi has faced charges from breaching coronavirus regulations to corruption. They're seen arsenic contrived successful bid to discredit her and warrant the subject takeover.

The service claims it acted due to the fact that past November’s predetermination was marked by wide electoral fraud. Independent observers of the polls, won by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, accidental person seen nary grounds justifying the army’s claim.

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