At least two dead as military truck rams into anti-coup protesters in Yangon

By DMG 06 Dec 2021

DMG Newsroom
6 December 2021, Yangon

At least two people were killed and several others injured and arrested after a military truck rammed into a crowd of protesters in Kyimyindaing Township, Yangon, at about 8 a.m. on December 5.

An unnamed resident of Kyimyindaing Township told DMG that three youths were run over by the truck when a group of youths were protesting against the military dictatorship, and others were shot and arrested by junta forces in the aftermath.

“Young people were staging an anti-coup protest at the time of the incident. The military truck had driven into the group of protesters and the junta soldiers then opened fire on some fleeing protesters, and beat others. I don’t know the fate of some youths who got under the military truck,” the resident added.

Two protesters were killed, three others sustained severe injuries and at least 10 people were arrested by the junta soldiers, said a family member close to a youth who took part in Sunday’s protest.

“They went outside to stage a protest and I didn’t think this incident would happen. Now some young people were killed and at least 10 people were detained,” the source added.

Some of the detainees are being held at Kyimyindaing police station while others were transferred to an interrogation centre, according to family members of the detainees.

Among the detainees, Ma Mya Kyu Kyu Thin is a volunteer for the Myanmar Red Cross Society, according to her family.

Regime forces are reportedly attempting to arrest some people who took pictures of the injured and dead, residents said.

Junta soldiers and police forcibly abducted at least 30 youths in Yangon Region’s Thanlyin, Hlaing, Sangyoung and Kyimyindaing townships at around 11 p.m. on December 5 in connection with the deadly anti-coup protests, according to information obtained by DMG.

Ko Kaung Set Lin, a reporter, and Ma Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, a presenter, from the Myanmar Press Photo Agency were also arrested in connection with the protest. Ma Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun was seriously injured and was admitted to a military hospital, according to the Myanmar Press Photo Agency.

No fatalities were reported in the Kyimyindaing incident and the injured are being treated at a military hospital, the Myanmar military said in a statement yesterday.

The US Embassy in Yangon said in a statement on its Facebook page: “We are horrified by reports that security forces opened fire against, ran over, and killed several peaceful protesters this morning in Yangon. We support the right of the people of Burma to protest peacefully.”

“The military’s widespread use of brutal violence underscores the urgency of restoring Burma’s path to inclusive democracy. We stand with the people of Burma in their aspirations for freedom and democracy and call on the military regime to end the use of violence, release those unjustly detained, and respect the will of the people,” the US Embassy’s statement reads.

The National Unity Government (NUG) condemned the incident, and solidarity demonstrations were held in several townships in Yangon and beyond.

In response to the junta’s violent crackdown on the protesters in Yangon, People’s Defense Forces (PDFs) in Yangon, Ayeyawady, Mandalay and Sagaing regions launched attacks on some military outposts, killing at least 20 junta soldiers, according to the anti-coup resistance groups.