A PEACEFUL protest carried out by thousands of Myanmar citizens against the recent military coup fell into chaos today after police opened fire on defenceless citizens, injuring many and seriously wounding a teenage girl.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets in recent days to protest against the detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi that followed a military coup.
Suu Kyi is being held on charges of illegally importing six walkie-talkies, yet her detention is considered to be illegal, and the charges ‘trumped up’.
At least 27 people have been arrested, including a journalist from the Democratic Voice of Burma who was filming a rally and also claimed people had been beaten.
Police in Myanmar, who were imposing the military’s ban on democratic protests, fired gunshots into the air and used water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse crowds as the country’s biggest protests in more than a decade continue.
Many among the protestors, however, claim that not all of the bullets were rubber, and images have emerged showing injured protestors and real ammunition.
One of the victims was a 19-year-old girl, who was seen being tended to by fellow protestors before being taken to hospital. Her current health status is unknown.
Meanwhile, despite condemning the military coup in Mayanmar, the UK and other western governments have failed to take action, with pressure mounting for Boris and his cabinet to stand up for democracy and the people of Mayanmar.
