Yangon, Myanmar:
Myanmar’s military raided the Yangon headquarters of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s party late Tuesday, officials stated, hours just after the United Nations condemned “unacceptable” violence against protesters demanding a return to democracy.
The most current assault on Myanmar’s civilian leadership came as anger at final week’s coup and the detention of Suu Kyi by the generals has driven hundreds of thousands of men and women into the streets in current days, defying a junta ban on rallies.
“The military dictator raided and destroyed NLD headquarters at around 9:30pm,” the National League for Democracy announced on its Facebook web page.
The party’s brief statement gave no additional particulars.
The raid came just after demonstrations erupted for a fourth straight day Tuesday, with police applying water cannons in numerous cities, firing rubber bullets at protesters in the capital Naypyidaw and deploying tear gas in Mandalay.
The rallies came regardless of a warning from the junta that it would take action against demonstrations that threatened “stability”, and a new ban on gatherings of more than 5 men and women.
In Naypyidaw, the remote capital objective-constructed by the preceding military regime, witnesses stated police fired projectiles at protesters just after earlier blasting them with water cannon.
“They fired warning shots to the sky two times, then they fired (at protesters) with rubber bullets,” a resident told AFP.
At least one emergency area medical doctor stated the military have been also applying live rounds, leaving a 23-year-old man and 19-year-old in a important situation in hospital.
“We believe they are actual bullets because of the wounds and their injuries,” the medical doctor stated.
“We don’t operate on their wounds because they could die right away — we are 100 percent sure they will die if we operate — that’s why we are watching their condition by treating them medically.”
The father of one of the victims stated his son had been shot “when he tried to use the megaphone to ask people to protest peacefully after the police used water cannon to disperse them.”
“He got hit in the back… I’m very worried about him,” the 56-year-old goldsmith told AFP.
In Mandalay, the country’s second-most significant city, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters.
A witness, who declined to be named out of worry of the authorities, stated she gave shelter to about 20 of the protesters, providing them water, towels and fresh face masks.
As evening fell the United Nations voiced its “strong concern” more than the violence.
“The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable,” stated Ola Almgren, the UN resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator in Myanmar.
– ‘We only have one life’ –
Earlier this week the protests by hundreds of thousands appeared to have rattled the military, with junta chief General Min Aung Hlaing generating a televised speech Monday to justify seizing energy, citing fraud claims.
The army also announced a curfew and a ban on protest gatherings.
But on Tuesday fresh demonstrations emerged in Yangon, such as close to the NLD’s headquarters.
The protesters carried placards, some of which study “We want our leader”, in reference to Suu Kyi and “No dictatorship”.
By afternoon, thousands had gathered in neighbouring Kamayut township, carrying umbrellas and wearing raincoats as they faced off against police, who had water cannon trucks blocking protesters from marching ahead.
“Of course we are worried (about a crackdown),” stated protester Khin Thida Nyein, a teacher. “We only have one life but we still come out…. as we are more concerned for the future of our children.”
Protesters dispersed by nightfall, with no reports of clashes with Yangon authorities.
Meanwhile, civil aviation workers and air visitors controllers have joined a civil disobedience movement, with their strike set to effect international flights wanting to pass by means of Myanmar’s air space.
It will also hit the military government’s coffers, which are set to shed overflight charges paid by airlines that could be worth up to $182,000 per day.
“Without us they can’t get the money anymore,” one air visitors controller told AFP.
– Military promises –
The NLD won final November’s national elections by a landslide but the military in no way accepted the outcomes.
It has announced a one-year state of emergency and promised to hold fresh elections just after that.
Min Aung Hlaing on Monday insisted the military would abide by its promises and reinstall democracy. He also declared that items would be unique from the army’s preceding 49-year reign, which ended in 2011.
New Zealand on Tuesday became the initial foreign government to take concrete public action, announcing the suspension of higher-level military and political contacts with Myanmar.
The United States has led international calls for the generals to relinquish energy, and issued a fresh statement on Monday, applying the country’s former name as it stated it stands “with the people of Burma.”
State Department spokesman Ned Price also stated US requests to speak to Suu Kyi had been denied.
The UN Human Rights Council stated it would hold a reasonably uncommon particular session on Friday to go over the crisis.
Meanwhile, relatives of an Australian financial advisor to Suu Kyi stated they have been “distraught” more than his detention.
Macquarie University professor Sean Turnell was the initial foreign national confirmed arrested by the new junta.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has summoned the Myanmar ambassador more than the case.
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